This article discusses uncertainty surrounding the Chicago Public Schools' FY2013 budget. The FY2013 budget will remain unresolved after today's vote by the Chicago Board of Education because of ongoing contract negotiations with the teachers union. The Civic Federation cautions that the proposed budget drains all general funds reserves and leaves the District with no identifiable plan for…
The State of Illinois’ enacted budget for FY2013 is missing key components needed to carry out the General Assembly’s spending plan, according to a recent filing in connection with State bond offerings. The bond disclosure documents, which were filed by Governor Pat Quinn’s Office on August 6, 2012, indicate that the enacted general operating funds budget totals $33.041 billion. In contrast, a…
(Click here to read part one of this two-part look at the City's Annual Financial Analysis.) Last week, the City of Chicago released its Annual Financial Analysis for 2012. According to an executive order issued by Mayor Emanuel on May 20, 2011, the Office of Budget and Management is mandated to produce a financial analysis of the City budget by July 31 of each year. The analysis includes…
Earlier today, Illinois Governor Pat Quinn signed legislation intended to add transparency, accountability and competition to the State’s Enterprise Zone Act. The Civic Federation’s issue brief on Illinois enterprise zones, previewed in a blog post last month, is now available on our website. The purpose of this issue brief is to describe: · How enterprise zones currently operate in Illinois and…
This issue brief examines how enterprise zones currently operate in Illinois. Enterprise zones are geographic areas designed by state and/or local governments to stimulate economic growth and create or retain jobs in economically depressed areas. The purpose of this issue brief is to describe: • Recent efforts to reform the administration and implementation of enterprise zones in Illinois; • The…
This segment gives an overview of the City of Chicago’s fiscal health following the July 31 release of the City’s Annual Financial Analysis, which projects a deficit of $369.0 million in FY2013. Civic Federation President Laurence Msall said the City will have to find significant savings to close future deficits, especially when faced with a $730 million increase in pension contributions in…
The City of Chicago released its Annual Financial Analysis on July 31, showing that debt payments are expected to rise next year by $278 million to a record level of $1.55 billion. The Civic Federation said the level of debt is cause for concern for the rating agencies and could lead to further downgrades in the city’s bond ratings.
This week the City of Chicago released its Annual Financial Analysis for 2012. According to an executive order issued by Mayor Emanuel on May 20, 2011, the Office of Budget and Management is mandated to produce a financial analysis of the City budget by July 31st of each year. The analysis includes: • A financial condition analysis that covers the previous ten years including a discussion…
As discussed here previously the Illinois General Assembly recently passed a sweeping overhaul of its Enterprise Zone Act. If signed by the Governor, the new law will change how the State grants and renews economic development areas and will require additional reporting to help determine the effectiveness of the tax benefits provided under the law. Enterprise zones are areas designated by…
In its recent analyses of the $5.7 billion FY2013 budget proposed by Chicago Public Schools and the $659.5 million FY2013 budget proposed by the City Colleges of Chicago, the Civic Federation expressed concern about the limited time allowed for public review. In each case, the Federation found that the time allowed for public input was inadequate for budgets of such magnitude. All governments…
