Taxes and Fees

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Civic Federation Supports FY2011 MWRD Budget, Urges Reform of Deteriorating Pension Fund

CHICAGO — The Civic Federation supports the nearly $1 billion tentative budget proposed by the Metropolitan Water Reclamation District of Greater Chicago (MWRD). The District will reduce staffing levels and Corporate Fund spending as a…

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Why Should We? A closer look at the Cubs' plea for public money

This feature story examines the proposal by the owner of the Chicago Cubs to renovate Wrigley Field using funds from bonds issued by a State of Illinois agency. The Civic Federation explains how amusement tax proceeds are split between the…

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Senate Bill 3538 Police and Fire Pension Reforms

UPDATE: The Civic Federation commends Governor Pat Quinn for signing Senate Bill 3538, a bill…

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Chicago Park District FY2011 Budget: Analysis and Recommendations

The Civic Federation supports the Chicago Park District’s FY2011 proposed operating budget of $397.6 million. The District is proposing to hold the property tax levy flat and maintain expenditures at close to FY2010 levels by using…

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Civic Federation Supports Proposed FY2011 Chicago Park District Budget

The Chicago Park District is to be commended for holding its property tax levy flat for the sixth straight year, says a Civic Federation report released today. The District will rely on non-tax revenues and a slight cut in staffing levels…

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Civic Federation Property Tax Primers, 2009-2011

The Cook County property tax system is very complex and difficult to understand. To help educate the public about the tax process and hold elected officials accountable, from 2009 to 2011 the Civic Federation prepared a series of primers…

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Chicago TIFs Will Collect $520 Million for Tax Year 2009

A new report on Cook County Tax Increment Financing (TIF) districts was released today by Cook County Clerk…

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Final Civic Federation Property Tax Primer Evaluates Effectiveness of Cook County Property Tax System

(CHICAGO) The final installment in the Civic Federation’s four-part educational series describing and evaluating the Cook County property tax system was published today. “The growing complexity of the property tax system in Cook County…

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The Cook County Property Tax System and Fundamental Principles of Taxation

This report describes basic principles of taxation and evaluates how these principles are manifested in the Cook County property tax system. The purpose of the report is descriptive, not prescriptive. It examines the operation of basic tax…

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Is State-Assisted Wrigley Repair A Good Idea?

This news segment discusses the proposal by the owner of the Chicago Cubs to fix Wrigley Field using funds from a State of Illinois bond issuance. Civic Federation President Laurence Msall says it’s too early to tell if the plan will be a…