This article discusses the State of Illinois’ upcoming issuances of general obligation bonds to fund its ongoing public works program. Plans include bond sales of between $500 million and $750 million on January 11 and additional bond…
In the past two years, nine states have passed laws to reduce automatic annual increases in pension benefits for current retirees. The latest example is Rhode Island…
The focus of this article is an announcement by Mayor Rahm Emanuel’s administration that it exceeded its budget-trimming goal by cutting $8 million more than the $75 million that was targeted in May. The Civic Federation said the…
On December 16, 2011, the Governor signed half of a tax incentive package that was sent to him earlier in the week by the legislature. The package of tax incentives had failed to advance earlier in the veto session. After splitting a…
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, DuPage County, City of Chicago, Cook…
This week marks the end of the Civic Federation's fiscal year 2012 local government budget analysis season. The nine local governments monitored by the Civic Federation include: City Colleges of Chicago, Chicago Public Schools, DuPage…
Spending Plan Holds the Line on Property Taxes, Begins to Reduce Structural Deficit The Civic Federation supports the proposed FY2012 Chicago Park District budget of $407.5 million because it freezes the property tax levy for the seventh…
The Civic Federation supports the Chicago Park District FY2012 Budget of $407.5 million because it holds the property tax levy flat for the seventh year in a row and emphasizes cost containment and revenue diversification. The Federation…
(CHICAGO) The Civic Federation announced today that it offers conditional support for the proposed tentative FY2012 Metropolitan Water Reclamation District of Greater Chicago (MWRD) budget of $1.0 billion. The full 41-page analysis is…
The Civic Federation offers conditional support for the Metropolitan Water Reclamation District’s (MWRD) FY2012 Tentative Budget of $1.0 billion. The Federation is concerned that the budget proposes the maximum increase to the property tax…
