Government Budgets

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CPS finances will be worse next year

In this segment, Civic Federation President Laurence Msall discusses the findings of the Federation’s FY2014 Chicago Public Schools Budget Analysis. The Civic Federation said relying on reserve funds to balance the budget is an unsustainable practice the District won’t be able to repeat next year, when it will face a $1 billion budget deficit absent pension reform.

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Editorial: Teacher pensions have to take a hit

This editorial discusses the need for pension reform for Chicago Public Schools and District officials’ failure to detail a pension plan. The editorial cites the Civic Federation’s FY2014 Chicago Public Schools Budget Analysis, which found the District will face a deficit of nearly $1 billion in each of the next two years.

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Lack of pension fix jeopardizes Chicago school finances

This article covers the release of the Civic Federation’s FY2014 Chicago Public Schools Budget Analysis. The Civic Federation did not support the budget, which completely draws down unrestricted reserve funds and uses some restricted reserves to close a $977 million budget deficit. The Federation said the District’s long-term fiscal health remains in jeopardy absent pension reform.

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CPS finances worse despite school closures, Civic Federation says

This article discusses key findings from the Civic Federation’s FY2014 Chicago Public Schools Budget Analysis. The District’s financial situation continues to deteriorate while legislators delay action on pension reform, with this year’s budget relying on reserve funding to close a $997 million deficit. The Civic Federation urges the District to develop its own pension reform plan tied to a long-…

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Cook County Health System FY2014 Budget Tied to CountyCare

UPDATE: On August 23, 2013, the preliminary FY2014 budget of the Cook County Health and Hospitals System was unanimously approved by the Health System's Board of Directors. The Cook County Board is expected to vote on the plan in October. The Health System's preliminary budget will then be included in the County Board President's overall budget proposal for FY2014. Original blog published on…

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State Funding for Chicago Public Schools

At the end of the month, the Board of Education for Chicago Public Schools will vote on the District’s $5.6 billion operating budget for FY2014. The total budget of $6.6 billion is supported by local, state and federal revenues and other resources, including $761.6 million of appropriated fund balance. This blog focuses on the State of Illinois’ resources for CPS. The State of Illinois will…

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Chicago Public Schools FY2014 Proposed Budget: Analysis and Recommendations

The Civic Federation does not support the Chicago Public Schools (CPS) proposed $6.6 billion operating budget for FY2014, which completely draws down unrestricted reserve funds and uses some restricted reserves to close a $977 million budget deficit. Even after the pain of layoffs and school closings, the District’s long-term fiscal health remains in jeopardy absent pension reform. The…

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Pain of FY2014 CPS Budget Reflects District's Failure to Push Pension Reform

(CHICAGO) In an analysis released today, the Civic Federation withholds support for the Chicago Public Schools (CPS) proposed $6.6 billion budget for FY2014, which closes a $977 million budget deficit with a complete drawdown of unrestricted reserve funds, as well as use of some restricted reserve funds. Even after the pain of layoffs and school closings, the District’s long-term fiscal health…

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Cook County Estimates for Special Revenue Funds: $200.2 Million in FY2014 Resources

On June 27, 2013, Cook County Board President Toni Preckwinkle released a report on preliminary budget estimates for fiscal year 2014, which begins on December 1, 2013 and ends November 30, 2014. The report provides an overview of mid-year FY2013 revenues and expenditures, expected year-end estimates for FY2013 and projected revenues and expenditures for FY2014. The Civic Federation previously…

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Medicaid Managed Care Rollout Delayed to Make Room for Hospital Networks

The scheduled rollout of Medicaid managed care in Illinois has been delayed by six months so hospitals can set up their own healthcare networks for Medicaid patients. The new networks, known as Accountable Care Entities (ACEs), are intended to cover children and families. The State’s Medicaid agency, the Illinois Department of Healthcare and Family Services (HFS), originally intended to enroll…