A recent poll of Illinois voters might help explain why elected officials have been reluctant to make difficult decisions to solve the State of Illinois’ fiscal crisis. The poll, by the Paul Simon Public Policy Institute at Southern Illinois University Carbondale, asked registered voters to choose among three different proposals for closing the State’s roughly $13 billion deficit in FY2011. More…
This article is about how some Chicago-area public transit agencies increased wages ahead of the economic recession, despite warnings that revenues would decline. The Civic Federation says such pay increases are unreasonable, given that there was adequate information available about the impending economic troubles.
This article focuses on Mayor Daley’s plans to fill the City of Chicago’s FY2011 budget gap with surplus TIF funds, proceeds from long-term leases of City assets, and by restructuring the City’s debt. The Civic Federation says it has concerns about the Mayor’s plans and that the City’s budget should include major structural changes to bolster its finances.
In this article about Mayor Daley’s plans to balance the City of Chicago FY2011 budget with a combination of one-time revenues, the Civic Federation says the plan, while politically palatable, is not sustainable. The Federation adds that the City should consider major restructuring of its workforce to prevent future budgetary issues.
This segment on the City Room news program discusses a recent report that found the State of Illinois ranks as the slowest state in the nation in paying its bills to nonprofits. Civic Federation President Laurence Msall says the State is acting fiscally irresponsible by paying its bills so late.
The State appears one step closer to implementing new performance measurement requirements that may significantly improve the General Assembly’s annual budget appropriations process. Illinois Senate President John Cullerton announced this week that Senator Dan Kotowski would take a leadership role in the implementation of the “Budgeting for Results” provisions included in Emergency Budget…
The State of Illinois is allowed to carry bills from one fiscal year through a specified period of time in the next fiscal year. This period of time—known as the lapse period—has been extended for FY2010 from two months to six months to give the State longer to deal with its mountain of unpaid bills. The State Finance Act (30 ILCS 105/25) allows state agencies to continue to use the previous…
This article discusses remarks made to the public by Illinois gubernatorial candidates Rich Whitney and Illinois Governor Pat Quinn after a Civic Federation forum.
This article explores City of Chicago Mayor Richard Daley’s plans to close a $654.7 million budget gap with a mix of tax increment financing and reserve funds, cuts, and debt restructuring. The Civic Federation says drawing down reserves will create future challenges for the City and that the City needs to restructure some of its public services.
This article discusses a delay in the mailing of Cook County property tax bills to around November 22, a month later than 2009’s mailing. The Civic Federation says that because of the delay, local governments may have to borrow money for operating costs – a potentially costly move.
