Government Budgets

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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…

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Why are towns cutting police officers?

The layoff of police officers in suburban Chicago communities is the focus of this article. The Civic Federation says that the current economic climate and the State of Illinois’ fiscal issues have forced municipalities to make the hard…

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State warned on more borrowing to fund pensions

This article about the State of Illinois’ possible plans to borrow to make its required pension contribution cites a Civic Federation blog post “…

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Daley’s last budget poised to sail through City Council

In this article about the City of Chicago’s FY2011 budget, the Civic Federation says the City’s short-sighted budgeting has had a major effect on the City’s costs of borrowing.

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Illinois Plans $1.5 Billion Tobacco Bond to Plug $2 Billion Budget Gap

The Civic Federation’s Cost of the Crisis report is cited in this article about the State of Illinois’ plan to issue bonds backed by Illinois’ share of the 1998 tobacco settlement.

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Cubs ask state for $300M in bonds

This article discusses a proposal by the family that owns the Chicago Cubs to have the State of Illinois borrow $300 million in a bond deal to make improvements to Wrigley Field. The Civic Federation says that such a deal should be…

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Civic Federation 2011 Legislative Priorities

The Civic Federation's legislative priorities for 2011 include public pension reform, requiring state government to develop and implement a capital improvement plan, the dissolving of the Illinois International Port District, creating a…

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New Pension Borrowing Could Stress State Budget Through 2019

When the General Assembly reconvenes next week for its annual veto session, it is expected to continue deliberating whether to borrow in FY2011 to make its required pension payment. If approved, the borrowing plan would lighten the load on…

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Expiring Parking Meter and Skyway Funds

  Last week the Civic Federation described the City of Chicago’s structural deficit in our budget analysis…

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Budget Plaudits for DuPage

This article discusses findings in the Civic Federation’s analysis of DuPage County’s FY2011 proposed budget.