Throughout this year’s Illinois budget negotiations, the IIFS blog was a valuable source of information and focus in the State’s murky and complex budget process. This year’s negotiations included a groundbreaking effort to address the Medicaid funding gap, new pension reform proposals and yet another downgrade to the State’s credit rating. Budget Negotiations The Institute started the year…
A look back at the Civic Federation’s blog this year provides a preview of upcoming fiscal challenges for local governments in 2013. Pension Funding The most urgent fiscal challenge for Illinois governments continues to be the pension funding crisis. The combined funded ratio for the four City of Chicago pension funds fell to 43.3% in FY2011. The funded status of the Cook County Pension Fund…
This article covers the release of the Civic Federation’s Metropolitan Water Reclamation District FY2013 Tentative Budget: Analysis and Recommendations. The Federation supports the budget for continuing a comprehensive effort to control rising personnel costs and said the budget reflects recent efforts by the District to address underfunding of its pension and healthcare costs.
Last week the Civic Federation marked the end of the FY2013 budget season with a blog that summarized the proposed budgets for the nine local governments the Federation monitors. These governments include: the City Colleges of Chicago, Chicago Public Schools (CPS), DuPage County, City of Chicago, Cook County, Chicago Transit Authority (CTA), Forest Preserve District of Cook County, Metropolitan…
This article discusses the Civic Federation’s State of Illinois Infrastructure report, which found that State and local governments could need to invest more than $300 billion over the next 30 years to maintain public infrastructure throughout the State. The report also explores the need for a comprehensive approach to prioritizing and funding the State’s critical capital investments.
If the U.S. Congress is unable to agree to an alternative to the automatic $491 billion in combined tax increases and spending cuts set to take place in January 2013, many are predicting dire national economic consequences. Additionally, Illinois and other states will also see a major decrease in available resources if the so called “fiscal cliff” comes to fruition. According to the Illinois…
Last week marked the end of the budget season for the nine local governments monitored by the Civic Federation. These governments include: the City Colleges of Chicago, Chicago Public Schools (CPS), DuPage County, City of Chicago, Cook County, Chicago Transit Authority (CTA), Forest Preserve District of Cook County, Metropolitan Water Reclamation District of Greater Chicago (MWRD) and Chicago…
The Civic Federation supports the Metropolitan Water Reclamation District’s proposed budget of $1.1 billion which continues a comprehensive effort to control rising personnel costs. The budget holds the tax-capped portion of the District’s property tax levy flat and reflects recent efforts by the District to address underfunding of its pension and healthcare costs. While praising the overall…
District’s initiative in developing and promoting a framework for pension reform is a model for local governments In an analysis released today, the Civic Federation supports the Metropolitan Water Reclamation District’s (MWRD) FY2013 Tentative Budget of $1.1 billion which continues a comprehensive effort to control rising personnel costs. The budget also holds the tax-capped portion of the…
The Civic Federation strongly supports the Chicago Transit Authority’s proposed FY2013 budget of $1.4 billion as a structurally balanced plan based on shared sacrifice by union members, riders and CTA management. The budget implements several prudent and sustainable steps including a targeted fare increase. The new proposed fare structure maintains base fares but increases rates for fare passes,…
