State of Illinois

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Illinois Sees Sustained Progress on Long-Term Debt Reduction in FY2026

By Roland CaliaIntroductionState debt burden—a state’s total financial liability from various forms of borrowing, including bonds, loans, and related financing instruments—is one of the core indicators of a government’s fiscal health,…

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The Civic Federation Supports Efforts to Lower Barriers to Township Consolidation

By Lily PadulaThe Civic Federation has long advocated for the abolition of unnecessary, duplicative, and unaccountable units of local government, including townships. These proliferate in greater number in Illinois, which has…

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How Illinois' Spending Compares to Other States: The Tension Between Pensions vs. Public Services

By Lily PadulaA comparative analysis of state expenditures finds that Illinois allocates a larger portion of its operational expenditures to pension obligations than most peer states. Illinois’ annual expenditures on state-level public…

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Illinois Proposed FY2026 Budget Overview

By Daniel Vesecky On February 19, Governor Pritzker released his proposed budget

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Diverse Coalition Encourages Action on Sales Tax Modernization to Strengthen Illinois' Fiscal Future

A coalition of Illinois policy and civic leaders released Modernizing Illinois' Sales Tax: A Pathway to a Sustainable Future, which outlines the potential impacts of updating the state’s sales tax system. The report — coauthored by…

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Civic Federation Urges Illinois Lawmakers to Begin Modernizing Illinois' Tax Structure and Budgeting Process to Solve the State's Significant Financial Challenges

CHICAGO – Today, the Civic Federation released a comprehensive report calling for Illinois legislators and Governor Pritzker’s administration to begin work on modernizing Illinois’ tax structure and improving its budgeting process. This…

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State of Illinois FY2026 Budget Roadmap: Landscape, Issues, and Recommendations

Click here to read the full report.

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Civic Federation Urges Illinois Lawmakers to Begin Modernizing Illinois' Tax Structure and Budgeting Process to Solve the State's Significant Financial Challenges

The Civic Federation shares a comprehensive report to spur and guide the Governor and Illinois General Assembly in conducting a holistic re-set of the State’s fiscal structure and adopting a more strategic approach to budgeting that…

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Illinois Economic Landscape and Fiscal Structure

Click here to read the full report.

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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,…