Open Books

This page offers online resources for people making efforts to keep tabs on government. If you have a link you’d like to share, or to report a broken link, please e-mail yinn@citybarbs.com.

Local Resources: Government

  • City of DeKalb Downloads Page

    • Meeting agendas, minutes, financial reports, union contracts, etc., are organized by department.

  • DeKalb County Clerk & Recorder

    • Our newest Clerk and Recorder has established an independent website offering records and resources to its constituencies.

  • DeKalb County Property Tax & Assessment Search

    • Property tax database search allows lookups by name, address, or parcel number.

  • DeKalb Sanitary District

    • The Sanitary District serves the City of DeKalb area, but is a separate governmental unit supported mostly by user fees.

    Local Resources: Watchdog

  • DeKalb County Online

    • To understand how the local cogs fit together, don’t miss this well-established online magazine that is popular both for community news and its advocacy of better government.

  • Imagine Election

    • Browse by state or plug in your zip code to get a listing of your elected representatives. It’s a newer site and not listing local-local reps yet nor candidates, though they appear to be goals.

    Neighboring Illinois Counties: Government

  • DuPage County’s Official Website

    • This is one of the more easily navigable county websites out there. Don’t miss the Ethics page.

    Neighboring Illinois Counties: Watchdog

  • Boone County Watchdog

    • Visit this daily reading list to follow issues in Boone County and beyond.

  • McHenry County Blog

    • Find a mix of news and opinion in the public interest with emphasis on McHenry County.

  • The Stephenson Blumdoggle

    • Anonymous blogger takes on the persona of Freeport founder Tutty Baker while reporting on local issues and government in Freeport and environs.

    State Resources: Government

  • Attorney General’s Charitable Trust Database Search

    • Obtain financial details as well as scanned annual financial reports from public charities and private foundations going back as far as FY2003.

  • Illinois Comptroller’s Office, Local Government Division

    • Jump from this page to information about Annual Financial Reports (AFRs) and Tax Increment Financing (TIF), including access to reports from local government units. (AFRs go back to 2000, TIF Annual Reports to 2010.)

    State Resources: Watchdog

  • Archive.org: NIU Salaries 2008

    • Virtual book lists NIU employees alphabetically, includes full-time equivalent (FTE), monthly salary, weekly hours.

  • Pantagraph.com: State Employee Database

    • Searchable database lists 82,000 state employees, with salary information, for 2008. Excludes university employees.

  • Chicago Sun-Times: The Data Lounge

    • Paid access. Chicago-area information plus statewide databases for teachers’ salaries, university salaries, state employees’ pensions, and more. Nothing older than 2007.

    Miscellaneous

  • Aircraft Information – Aircraft Owners, Registrations

    • Look up airplane registration information by location, individuals’ names, registration numbers and more.