Senator Balkema · Illinois 53rd District · Data Hub

Illinois Data Hub

Real numbers. Clear context. No spin. Explore data-driven deep dives into the issues shaping life across Central Illinois: energy bills, property taxes, public safety, pensions, and more.

Explore the Data ↓ ← Senator's Website
About This Hub

Facts First. Politics Second.

Illinois families deserve to know the truth about what's happening in their state. Senator Balkema is committed to delivering it. The Data Hub translates complex legislative and fiscal issues into clear, visual presentations that every constituent can understand and use.

Every presentation is built from publicly available government data: state budgets, EIA energy reports, U.S. Census figures, COGFA fiscal studies, and peer-reviewed research. Sources are cited throughout so you can verify every claim independently.

Senator Chris Balkema
Data Hub · All Topics

Choose a Topic

More presentations are added regularly. Check back often or sign up below for updates.

Live
Illinois Energy

Energy Costs & Illinois Policy

Why are Illinois energy bills among the highest in the Midwest? A comprehensive look at electricity rates, renewable mandates, grid reliability, and what current policy means for families and businesses.

Sneak Peek
PJM's latest capacity auction cost $16.4 billion, with data centers driving $6.3B of it
  • How Illinois electricity rates compare to neighboring states
  • Renewable mandates, grid reliability, and CEJA's impact
  • What current policy means for household and business bills
Electricity Rates Renewables Grid Reliability CEJA Impact Cost Comparisons
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Live
Property Taxes

The Property Tax Burden

Illinois has the highest effective property tax rate in the nation. This data hub breaks down where those dollars go, how the levy has grown by 27% since 2018, and what reform looks like.

Sneak Peek
1.88% effective rate — tied for #1 highest in the nation
  • How Illinois compares to every other state on effective tax rate
  • Where the levy actually goes, and why schools take the largest share
  • The LGDF funding gap and what 2025 reform legislation would change
#1 in the Nation School Funding LGDF Gap 2025 Legislation
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Live
IL Pensions

The Pension Crisis in Numbers

Illinois carries the worst-funded public pension system in the nation. This presentation maps the $143.5 billion unfunded liability, the 5 state systems, and what reform paths exist.

Sneak Peek
$143.5B unfunded liability across just 5 state-run systems
  • How Illinois's 5 pension systems compare
  • How Illinois ranks against every other state
  • What the Edgar Ramp requires through 2045
Unfunded Liability Funding Ratio Reform Options
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Live
Public Safety

Crime, Courts & Community Safety

From the SAFE-T Act to crime trends, drugs and firearms, corrections and courts, and law enforcement funding: an evidence-based review of public safety policy in Illinois and what the numbers actually show.

Sneak Peek
Illinois was the first state to eliminate cash bail statewide (2023)
  • How the SAFE-T Act changed the pretrial justice system
  • Crime trend data by offense type, county, and region
  • More than 90 public safety bills pending in Springfield
Crime Trends SAFE-T Act Corrections & Courts Firearms & Drugs
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Live
IL Education

Education Funding & Outcomes

How does Illinois fund its schools, and are students getting a good return? A data-driven look at the Evidence-Based Funding formula, per-pupil spending, test scores, teacher shortages, and higher education and trade pathways.

Sneak Peek
$18,527 spent per student, yet Illinois lowered its own proficiency bar in 2025
  • How the Evidence-Based Funding formula works
  • Per-pupil spending vs. actual student outcomes
  • Why Illinois lowered its proficiency standards, and what changed
Per-Pupil Spending Test Scores Funding Formula
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Live
Illinois Economy

Jobs, Taxes & Growth

A shrinking labor force, businesses leaving for lower-tax states, and spending growing five times faster than the economy. An honest look at Illinois's economic trajectory and the policies driving it.

Sneak Peek
456,378 net domestic migration loss, 2020 through 2025
  • Illinois GDP growth vs. neighboring states
  • Business climate rankings and outmigration data
  • Why state spending is outpacing the real economy
Job Growth Outmigration Business Climate
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Live
Illinois Agriculture

Farms, Food & Rural Policy

Illinois agriculture contributes billions to the state's economy every year. A look at crop and livestock production, farm regulation, the FFA and Farm Bureau, and the current fights over dicamba, animal disease, and the estate tax.

Sneak Peek
$51.1 billion in annual economic impact from roughly 76,000 Illinois farms
  • Crop and livestock production and revenue data
  • How federal and state authority over farming is divided
  • Current issues: dicamba restrictions, screwworm, and the estate tax
Crop & Livestock Data Farm Regulation Estate Tax FFA & Farm Bureau
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Live
Audit Information

State Audits & Accountability

Illinois ranks last in the nation for financial transparency. A data-driven look at the Auditor General, the Legislative Audit Commission, a decade of state agency audit findings, and what it will take to fix them.

Sneak Peek
Illinois ranks 50th out of 50 states for financial transparency
  • How the Auditor General and Legislative Audit Commission work, including Sen. Balkema's role on the Commission
  • A decade of state agency audit findings and repeat offenders
  • Corrective action progress and legislation aimed at reform
Auditor General Audit Findings Financial Transparency Corrective Action
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Coming Soon
Coming Soon

What Should We Cover Next?

We're building out the next data deep dive for Illinois families. New topic pages are added on a regular basis as new presentations and data become available.

In the Works
Have a topic you'd like to see covered? Let Sen. Balkema's office know.
  • New topic pages are added regularly
  • Every page is backed by real, cited data
  • Check back soon for the next release
More Coming Soon
Coming Soon
Our Approach

How the Data Hub Works

Sourced from Public Data

Every presentation is built from publicly available government data: state budgets, EIA energy reports, U.S. Census figures, COGFA fiscal studies, and the Tax Foundation. Every claim is cited so you can verify it independently.

Designed for Clarity

Complex fiscal and policy data is translated into clear charts, plain-language explanations, and side-by-side comparisons, so every constituent can understand what the numbers mean for their family and community.

Updated Regularly

As new data becomes available and legislation moves through Springfield, presentations are updated to reflect the current picture. New topic areas are added throughout the legislative session.

Roadmap

All Topics

  • Illinois Energy Live
  • Property Taxes Live
  • IL Pensions Live
  • Public Safety Live
  • IL Education Live
  • Illinois Economy Live
  • Agriculture Live
  • Audit Information Live

Have Questions About
Any of These Topics?

Senator Balkema's office is always available to discuss issues affecting the 53rd District. Reach out directly. We want to hear from you.