The Civic Federation opposes Cook County’s $3.0 billion FY2010 operating budget because it is predicated on the continuation of an unnecessary one percentage point sales tax increase and provides limited evidence of cost-saving efficiencies or structural reforms. In contrast, the Cook County Health and Hospital System is proposing efficiencies and eliminating vacant and non-front line positions.…
The Civic Federation released its analysis of the FY2010 DuPage County budget yesterday. In it the Federation announced its support for the County’s proposed financial plan due in large part to the County’s ability to maintain operation of its core programs while reducing its property tax levy in the midst of an economic recession. As many governments struggle to make ends meet this year,…
The State of Illinois’ fiscal crisis has had a major impact on the State’s employee health insurance plan, delaying payments on employee medical bills paid by the State for roughly seven months and causing the State to delay paying premiums to managed care companies for three and a half months. It is taking an average of 209 days for the State’s self-insured health plan to pay its bills,…
(CHICAGO) The Civic Federation will announce its support for DuPage County’s $521.2 million proposed FY2010 budget at a public hearing on Tuesday, October 27, 2009 at 8:00 am. In contrast to many other local governments in northeastern Illinois, DuPage will maintain funding for its core programs despite falling revenues and increasing expenses, while simultaneously reducing its property tax levy…
The Civic Federation supports the $521.2 million FY2010 DuPage County budget proposal because it maintains funding for core programs while providing property tax relief. The County has additionally improved its budget planning process and increased government transparency. Read the press release for the FY2010 DuPage County budget proposal here.
This news segment about Mayor Daley’s plans to close a $500 million City of Chicago budget gap with funds from the City’s privatization deals quotes the Civic Federation, which cautions that forecasted revenues for next year may not be enough to make up for the City’s withdrawal of those funds.
This Clout Street blog post discusses the Cook County Forest Preserve District’s decision to pass its operating budget without increasing fees or property taxes. The post mentions the Civic Federation’s initial support of the budget plan.
In this news story, the Civic Federation cautions the City of Chicago against using its cash reserves, funded from the City’s recent asset privatization deals, to fill a budget deficit. The Federation notes that such a move will compromise the City’s ability to respond to future financial stresses and potentially harm the City’s credit rating and ability to borrow in the future.
The State of Illinois’ personal income tax revenue for FY2010 is now expected to be $850 million lower than projected when the budget was approved in July 2009, according to David Vaught, the newly appointed Director of the Government’s Office of Management and Budget. The latest estimate of approximately $9.4 billion is down roughly 8% from the $10.2 billion projection used to develop the budget…
This news story is about the CTA’s proposed fare increase to bridge a $180 million budget gap and its possible effect on the program that allows senior citizens to ride the CTA, Metra, and Pace for free. The Civic Federation points out that former governor Rod Blagojevich instituted the free rides for seniors program despite funding concerns. The Federation says that to help the CTA balance its…
