The Village of Campbell Hill budget was $541,270.14 for its 2015 fiscal year, or $4,666.12 per household.

Here are the 43 former employees of the City of Chester receiving the highest annual pension payouts, according to 2015 Illinois Municipal Retirement Fund (IMRF) records:

Here are the 43 highest-paid employees of the City of Chester, according to 2015 Illinois Municipal Retirement Fund (IMRF) records:

North Wamac Grade School's 2016 standardized test scores decreased compared to scores from 2015, according to a report recently released by the Illinois State Board of Education (ISBE).

The Illinois State Board of Education (ISBE) has placed Bethel School District 82 on its financial "Recognition" list.

Vienna School District 55 has $2,518,595 in debt, according to Illinois State Board of Education 2016 financial reports obtained by the SW Illinois News.

The Illinois State Board of Education (ISBE) has placed Benton Community High School District 103 on its financial "Recognition" list.

The City of Chester budget was $19.12 million for its 2015 fiscal year, or $9,122.36 per household.

Here are the 24 highest-paid employees of the City of Du Quoin, according to 2015 Illinois Municipal Retirement Fund (IMRF) records:

The Illinois State Board of Education (ISBE) has placed Bluford Unit School District 318 on its financial "Recognition" list.

Sparta Community Unit School District 140 has $12,014,403 in debt, according to Illinois State Board of Education 2016 financial reports obtained by the SW Illinois News.

Here are the 23 former employees of the City of Du Quoin receiving the highest annual pension payouts, according to 2015 Illinois Municipal Retirement Fund (IMRF) records:

The Illinois State Board of Education (ISBE) has placed Buncombe Consolidated School District 43 on its financial "Review" list.

Zeigler-Royalton Community Unit School District 188 has $3,430,000 in debt, according to Illinois State Board of Education 2016 financial reports obtained by the SW Illinois News.

Willow Grove Elementary School's 2016 standardized test scores increased compared to scores from 2015, according to a report recently released by the Illinois State Board of Education (ISBE).

The budget battle in the Illinois Statehouse has allowed workers' compensation fraud to continue largely unchecked, the law firm Keefe, Campbell, Biery & Associates (KCBA) contends.

Public sector employees and retirees could accept less than their constitutionally protected pensions if they understand it's them or public education, an economist said during an appearance on a recent Chicago-based radio show.

While every state around it continues to grow in population and prosperity, Illinois keeps shrinking under the strain of higher taxes and more regulations, Michael Lucci, vice president of policy for the Illinois Policy Institute, said in an article on the institute's website.

The Illinois House passed a contentious and divisive tax revenue bill on Sunday vigorous debate and little Republican support.

The City of Columbia budget was $14.83 million for its 2015 fiscal year, or $139,901.54 per household.