Research Library
March 25, 2026
Tax Increment Financing: A Primer
Tax Increment Financing, or TIF, is one of the most widely used—and often misunderstood—economic development tools in Illinois. This report explains how Tax Increment Financing (TIF) operates in Illinois, including Chicago; assesses its fiscal impacts on taxpayers and overlying taxing bodies; outlines the TIF designation process; summarizes key policy debates over its benefits and drawbacks; and reviews recent empirical research on TIF in Illinois and the United States.
Featured Reports & Analysis
March 2, 2026
Cook County Health: FY2026 Budget and Long-Term Risks
Cook County’s enacted budget for FY2026 totals $10.0 billion, half of which pertains to Cook County Health (CCH), which provides mandatory health services to County residents and others, including those who cannot afford care elsewhere. This report provides more detail and context on Cook County Health’s fiscal impacts on the County as a whole. With preliminary FY2025 financial results now available, state budget deliberations underway, and continued federal policy shocks, the time is right to review Cook County Health’s FY2026 budget and FY2027-FY2030 long-term forecast and assess risks going forward.
January 20, 2026
Illinois Early Childhood Landscape
This report provides a data-driven overview of the early childhood landscape in Illinois. It examines demographic and socioeconomic conditions, governance and organizational structures, funding trends, program access, workforce capacity, quality indicators, family experiences, and outcomes. The goal is not to make policy recommendations, but rather to provide a comprehensive baseline of information to inform future discussions about Illinois’ early childhood system.
December 11, 2025
On the Right Track: Illinois' New Transit Agency and Path to Sustainability
Illinois Senate Bill 2111 makes major changes to the way transit service is governed and funded in Illinois. While the legislation specifies substantial governance reforms for the northern Illinois transit system and further provides new public funding for transit state-wide, many questions about oversight and accountability remain as the region enters crucial transition and implementation phases. In this report, we consider these challenges in light of four broad issues: governance; public funding; passenger fares; and system ridership.
All Blog Posts & Reports
Keep up with the Civic Federation's latest research and recommendations on fiscal policy and other key issues facing our state and local governments.