Morning Shorts
Monday, Jan 5, 2009 - Posted by Mike Murray
* More Illinois residents used food stamps in 2008
Nearly 1.4 million people in Illinois used food stamps in November. That compares to nearly 1.3 million in November of the previous year.
Illinois Department of Human Services spokesman Tom Green blames both higher food prices and the struggling economy for the increase.
Most low-income households can qualify for food stamp benefits. Applications are taken at state DHS offices.
* More move away from Illinois
More people are moving out of Illinois than into the state, according to figures from two large shipping companies.
Of the 18,084 interstate moves involving Illinois handled in the first 11 months of 2008 by United Van Lines and Atlas Van Lines, 56 percent were outbound and 44 percent were moving in.
Illinois was among a group of Midwestern states that saw more moving trucks leaving than entering.
* State launches utility payment program
* State must fix law that bans indoor smoking
* Will County eyes suit over EJ&E purchase
* Daley’s grind: A look back at an up-and-down year for the mayor
* City budget woes worse than thought in ‘08
The city’s finance chief delivered bad news for the new year: The city’s 2008 budget crisis was even worse than predicted.
City revenues last year were $31 million lower than projected in the fall, Paul Volpe, the city’s chief financial officer, said Friday.
“I don’t expect things to get better in [2009], frankly,” Volpe told reporters at City Hall. “Everybody seems to think it’s going to get worse before it gets better.”
Volpe said the city will rely on “creative management,” rather than layoffs or tax increases, to make do in these trying economic times.
A big drop in real estate transfer taxes in 2008 accounts for much of the shortfall, as well as decreases in income and sales taxes, Volpe said.
* Despite Less Revenue, Chicago Officials Offer Some Good News
The bad news is Chicago received much less than expected income from taxes and fines in 2008. But Chief Financial Officer Paul Volpe says there is some good news. Volpe says the city could save nearly $22 million in 2009 by lower fuel prices the city’s locked-in. He says residents won’t see taxes go up or services cut.
* Popular festivals among the victims of municipal budget cuts
* Enough already with all the fee increases
In Chicago, they literally get you coming and going.
If you ride the bus, you’re getting hit with an increase.
Taking the L?
Ditto.
Decide to drive downtown instead?
More city taxes on parking garages.
Try parking instead on downtown streets?
Meter rates are going up, too.
And remember, only two unpaid parking tickets get you the boot, rather than three.
* Bumpy road in obtaining reduced-fare card
* More interest should mean more voices
- Cassandra - Monday, Jan 5, 09 @ 9:11 am:
Food stamps are a good way to return tax money to citizens…in the 21st century, nobody should be going hungry in in the US or other wealthy countries.
But the application process sounds like it is still outdated. After all, much financial information on individuals is already available online. Why not allow the application to take place on line as well, instead of at food stamp offices, as described.
We should be way past the day when supplicants for
government services have to line up at “the welfare.”
In person applications, however outdated, do provide lifetime government salaries for a lot of civil service employees though.
- wordslinger - Monday, Jan 5, 09 @ 9:23 am:
I find it hard to get exercised about Loop parking rates. There’s not an inherent right for cheap downtown parking. Downtown drivers get a tax break; shoppers can get validation.
- Vote Quimby! - Monday, Jan 5, 09 @ 9:26 am:
If people can afford internet access, why should they get food stamps? I still consider it a luxury that should be a lower priority than three squares….
On the moving out of Illinois—I remember back in college (late 80s) the U-Haul dealership had on its sign 60% off of moves to Flint and Detroit. Still not many takers, though…
- Mike Murray - Monday, Jan 5, 09 @ 9:33 am:
Also food stamps programs are one of the most effective programs when it comes to the bang for the taxpayers’ buck of government economic stimulus programs. I can’t recall the exact ratio, and I have seen various numbers on this point, but it is something like $1.60 of economic activity that is generated by every $1 the government spends on food stamps, which is much more productive then say infrastructure spending.
- wordslinger - Monday, Jan 5, 09 @ 9:44 am:
VQ, I think in this day and age, the Internet is no longer a luxury. It’s how you find a job, pay bills, etc. It’s very important if you want to participate in the economy. Foods stamps, for most, are a short-term situation due to a setback.
- Mike Murray - Monday, Jan 5, 09 @ 9:54 am:
Good point RE the internet Wordslinger. For my generation, the internet is a must. Also, food stamps are popular among college students who qualify (e.g. they pay their own tuition). We can use all the $ we can get.
- train111 - Monday, Jan 5, 09 @ 1:04 pm:
RE the EJ&E
When is it time to cut a deal and run??
To me a lawsuit is nothing more than a blatant waste of tax dollars. Tossing good money after bad. Never that I have read have the courts upended a proposed railroad merger. The STB and its predecessor the ICC have both done so, but never the courts.
Sorry Barrington etal–All the king’s horses and all the king’s men aren’t going to fulfill your hopes in this case again!!! Neither will all the screaming politicians for that matter either.
train111
- Six Degrees of Separation - Monday, Jan 5, 09 @ 4:38 pm:
Please, Larry Walsh…
This has about as much chance for success as Elk Grove and Bensenville’s taxpayer-draining efforts against O’Hare expansion. At least you haven’t thrown away bad $ after good for a decade or more.