City of Chicago

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Chicago’s Dire Finances Hold It Back in Competition Among Cities

by Shruti SinghJune 5, 2025

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Top mayoral aides make the case for local grocery tax, sales tax on services - Chicago Sun-Times

by Fran SpielmanJune 3, 2025

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Implement a Chicago grocery tax, Mayor Brandon Johnson tells aldermen

by Jake SheridanJune 3, 2025

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Chicago’s FY2025 Enacted Budget Remains Structurally Imbalanced

By Grant McClintockFollowing a lengthy political debate, Chicago’s FY2025 enacted budget managed to technically fill a nearly $1 billion projected budget gap. However, as the Civic Federation noted in its…

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Civic Federation, Better Government Association, and Center for Tax and Budget Accountability Statement on Budget Transparency Ordinance

 Chicago’s city council is set to vote on a package of ordinances setting the municipal budget for 2025. A late start, the mayor’s failure to provide detailed information requested by alderpeople, and a unanimous city council…

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Civic Federation Releases Reports on Cook County, City of Chicago, and the State of Illinois' Finances

The non-partisan organization recently published analyses and informational reports on the finances of local governments and the impact on their taxpayers. CHICAGO – The Civic Federation released six reports in October and November,…

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Total Chicago Property Tax Burden Rose by $2.7 Billion, or 53.3%, Between Tax Years 2014 and 2023

This short report presents trends on increases in total property tax extensions for all the governments on typical Chicago property tax bills. A taxpayer in the City of Chicago pays property taxes to 7 or 8 local governments, depending on…

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Chicago’s FY2025 Proposed Budget Exacerbates Structural Imbalance

On October 30, Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson introduced the City’s proposed FY2025 budget. The proposed budget included a…

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High Chicago Debt Burden Contributes To City's Fiscal Challenges

The City of Chicago currently faces mounting fiscal challenges, with a projected FY2025 budget gap of $982.4 million. A significant contributor to the City’s rising costs is its rising debt burden over time. More information about the City…

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Civic Federation Report Details Key Fiscal Challenges and Path Forward for City of Chicago in FY2025

The Civic Federation today released a report framing stark financial realities and opportunities City of Chicago officials must navigate as they work to build and approve the City’s FY2025 budget this fall. Estimates place the government…