The Civic Federation supports Tax Increment Financing as an economic development tool but recommends that there be much greater transparency in the quantity and quality of TIF information provided to the public. The Federation recommends including full financial information about TIF in all municipal budgets, making TIF information easily accessible on the internet, and undertaking a…
This report explains the impact of TIF on taxpayers and local governments in Illinois. It also reviews the TIF designation process, recent empirical research on TIF, and provides detailed information on selected City of Chicago TIF Districts. It is a companion report to the Civic Federation Position Statement on TIF.
The Civic Federation supports the CTA's proposed $1.0 billion FY2008 budget because it makes the necessary fare and service changes to create a blanced budget for the coming fiscal year. The Federation calls on the General Assembly and Governor to pass SB 572 immediately in order to allow the CTA to institute landmark pension and retiree health care reforms and rein in its skyrocketing employee…
Urges Immediate Passage of Comprehensive Reform Package in Senate Bill 572 The Civic Federation supports Chicago Transit Authority President Ron Huberman’s proposed $1.0 billion FY2008 budget because it makes necessary fare increases and service cuts to create a balanced budget for the coming fiscal year. The Federation’s full analysis and recommendations are available on our website, www.…
THE CIVIC FEDERATION SUPPORTS FY2007 CHICAGO BUDGET Remains Concerned about Pension Funds in Crisis (CHICAGO) – The Civic Federation released its independent analysis of Mayor Daley’s proposed city of Chicago budget today. The Federation supports the proposed $5.7 billion FY2007 spending plan for holding the line on property tax increases and stabilizing personnel-related expenditures through…
The Civic Federation opposes the City of Chicago's proposed $5.9 billion budget. The budget proposes an additional $266.6 million in new spending and includes a $108.0 million property tax increase, the largest in recent Chicago history. We believe that the 15.1% property tax increase should be rejected and the city should maintain its self-imposed property tax cap. We believe that the city has…
Standing up for weary taxpayers throughout Chicago, the Civic Federation announced its opposition to Chicago Mayor Richard Daley’s $5.9 billion FY2008 budget today at a public hearing at City Hall. The Federation believes the budget’s proposed 15.1%, $108 million property tax increase should be rejected and that the city should stick to its self-imposed property tax cap. The stated purpose of the…
The Civic Federation supports the Forest Preserve District's proposed $175.2 million budget because the District has issued a Capital Improvement Plan for the second consecutive year and made it available on its web site. The Federation makes a number of recommendations on ways to improve the financial management of the District.
Advocates Separate Board for Forest Preserves to End Conflicts of Interest Citing the Cook County Forest Preserve District’s development of a publicly available Capital Improvement Plan (CIP), the Civic Federation gave its support to the proposed FY2008 district budget today. However, the Federation reaffirmed its stance that the forest preserves deserve a separately elected board that will…
The Civic Federation opposes the Cook County FY2008 proposed budget. The $3.2 billion budget includes a 267% increase in the county sales tax, the addition of 1,130 new positions, and other tax hikes that could generate as much as $979.8 million when fully implemented in FY2009. The Federation’s analysis includes recommendations that would both contain costs and provide much-needed improvements…
