Property Tax Update – 8/1/2022
Our real estate tax team at Rock Fusco & Connelly, LLC continues to work hard fighting to keep your property tax bills as low as possible. Below are key updates on the 2022 session. Cook County: Because the Assessor’s Office was four months overdue certifying 2021 values, the 2022 session – which historically would have
Illinois Association of Aggregate Producers End Strike
On Monday, July 25, 2022, Illinois’ three largest aggregate producers reached a tentative agreement with Operating Engineers Local 150 on a new contract that would end the strike that Local 150 has been conducting since June 7th. Operating Engineers Local 150 is a labor union representing nearly 23,000 working men and women in Illinois in
Safe Streets and Roads for All: A Grant Opportunity
Danger on the Roads Roadway deaths and injuries in the US have reached a decade high. Specifically, pedestrian fatalities on US roads have increased by more than 50% in the past decade. This rise has been called a “crisis on America’s roadways” by Secretary of Transportation Pete Buttigieg. Experts attribute this rise to increased cellphone
New Chicago Minimum Wage and Fair Workweek Changes Beginning in July
Starting July 1, 2022, the City of Chicago’s annual increase in the minimum wage will take effect, as well as additional changes put forth in the Fair Workweek Ordinance. Pursuant to the Minimum Wage Ordinance, there are different wage increases depending on the size of the business. Beginning on July 1st, minimum wage will be
Expanded FMLA Coverage: New Law Affording Extended Bereavement Leave for Employees
On June 9, 2022, Governor J.B. Pritzker signed into law amendments to the Illinois Child Bereavement Leave Act. Starting January 1, 2023, the amendment will expand employee coverage, rename the Act and stipulate certain supporting documentation guidelines for bereavement leave requests. Expanded Coverage The amendment to the Act extends unpaid bereavement leave for employees experiencing
2022 Changes to Davis-Bacon and Related Acts Regulations Proposed
For the first time in 40 years, the U.S. Department of Labor has proposed to amend regulations issued under the Davis-Bacon and Related Acts that set forth rules for the administration and enforcement of the Davis-Bacon labor standards that apply to Federal and federally assisted construction projects. Enacted in 1931, the Davis-Bacon Act (DBA) requires
Impact of Inflation on the Construction Sector
From supply chain shortages to increased costs in essential materials and skilled labor, construction companies are feeling the negative effects of inflation. Initially, COVID-19 took the front runner for increases in pricing and supply chain disruptions across the nation and globe, but new challenges have arisen which continue to place pressure on prices of lumber,
Proposed “Workers’ Rights Amendment”
This November a proposed constitutional amendment will be on the ballot in Illinois. Illinois Constitutional Amendment 11 has been labeled the “Workers’ Rights Amendment,” which, according to its supporters, would establish the fundamental right for workers to collectively bargain and unionize along with banning right-to-work laws in the state of Illinois. Those in favor of
2022 Changes to Form I-9 Compliance Requirements
Completing Form I-9 is one of the most crucial steps in the hiring process, as it ensures employers are only employing people who are legally allowed to work in the United States. In 1986, I-9s were created by the passing of the Immigration Reform and Control Act (IRCA) and since its creation, new I-9 forms
Deadlines for Chicago Employers: Amendments to Sexual Harassment Laws Impose New Guidelines and Requirements
Deadlines for Chicago Employers: Amendments to Sexual Harassment Laws Impose New Guidelines and Requirements On April 27, 2022, Chicago City Council approved amendments to the sexual harassment provisions of the Chicago Human Rights Ordinance, which go into effect on July 1, 2022. Accordingly, Chicago-based employers have a quickly approaching deadline to implement these amendments, which