Data-Z News

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Illinois comptroller ‘frustrated’ with late annual audits, says FY25 will be quicker

JULY 21, 2025 | THE CENTER SQUARE | by Greg Bishop

Illinois taxpayers still don’t have audited financials from fiscal year 2023, but the state’s comptroller says they’re working to speed annual reports up.

Truth In Accounting founder Sheila Weinberg said Illinois continues to be among the states with tardy financial reporting.

Coming in last place ... the state of Illinois

JULY 21, 2025 | THE NEWS-GAZETTE | by Jim Dey

Truth-in-Accounting, a Chicago-based fiscal watchdog, has issued another in its series of reports on transparency in the states’ financial reporting.

Illinois, unfortunately, finished 50th in the ranking of all 50 states.

Property tax-cut push creates double bind for Deegan

JULY 20, 2025 | HTTPS://JAXTODAY.ORG/2025/07/20/OPINION-PROPERTY-TAX-CUT-PUSH-CREATES-DOUBLE-BIND-FOR-DEEGAN/ | by A.G. Gancarski

Meanwhile, a big-picture view of local finances, via the watchdogs at Truth in Accounting, suggests that the city council is as complicit as the mayor in not reining in big spending at the expense of the future. 

Earlier this year, the group reported a per capita debt of nearly $10,000 for every person in the city, which puts Jacksonville 60th out of 75 cities ranked. 

California lags in financial transparency

JULY 19, 2025 | THE ORANGE COUNTY REGISTER | by Jon Coupal

California’s inability to provide timely financial data is legendary. As TIA’s earlier report noted, as of August 31, 2024, California had not released its fiscal year 2023 annual financial report, making it the fifth year in a row California has been late submitting critical information. 

KC suburbs report card: Are these cities’ finances built for tomorrow?

JULY 17, 2025 | THE KANSAS CITY STAR | by Patrick Tuohey

Suburban life promises predictability: safe streets, good schools and reliable trash pickup. For many, especially in Kansas City’s orbit, it’s a preferred alternative to the aging infrastructure and financial shortfalls common in urban cores. But as these suburbs grow, they inherit similar challenges — just on a delay. Their balance sheets today play a large part in their potential and possibilities tomorrow.

 

Illinois ranks last in the country in financial transparency

JULY 14, 2025 | THE CENTER SQUARE | by Glenn Minnis

A new Truth in Accounting report pegs Illinois as being dead last among all 50 states when it comes to financial transparency.

Financial Transparency Score 2025

JULY 8, 2025

In the spirit of promoting clear and accurate fiscal information, Truth in Accounting has once again assessed the transparency of state governments’ financial reporting. While state budgets receive most of the public and media’s attention, their outcomes are detailed in each government's Annual Comprehensive Financial Report (ACFR), which is audited annually by certified public accountants. Our transparency score is based on key criteria outlining best practices, offering government officials and citizens a roadmap to enhance fiscal transparency and accountability.

Falling revenue, soaring costs threaten Pittsburgh’s financial future

MAY 4, 2025 | THE PITTSBURGH POST-GAZETTE | by Mike Wereschagin

For city leaders, the internal report one year ago was startling: Pittsburgh’s finances, despite the glowing claims of some elected officials, were on the brink of disaster.

Common Sense And Deficit Spending

MAY 2, 2025 | THE CONNECTICUT CENTINAL | by Don Pesci

Although the state of Connecticut is sitting on a massive accumulative state pension debt of some $35 billion, most of the chatter in our media concerns the state’s biennial “surplus.”

Dallas’s $8.2B Debt Demands Ethical Leaders, Not West’s Financial Fumbles

APRIL 30, 2025 | THE DALLAS EXPRESS

Dallas’s $5 billion budget and $8.2 billion debt demand City Council members with the integrity and skill to steward taxpayer dollars responsibly. Yet a litany of financial mismanagement—from Council Member Chad West’s ethics probe to a $5.7 million Fair Park discrepancy, the city manager’s admission of misspent funds, and now the $29 million Stemmons building debacle—reveals a City Hall failing its residents. With taxpayers already burdened by rising debt, Dallas deserves leaders who prioritize the public good, not personal or political gain.

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