Voters Avoid Hard Choices on State Budget
A recent poll of Illinois voters might help explain why elected officials have been reluctant to make difficult decisions to solve the State of Illinois’ fiscal crisis. The…
A recent poll of Illinois voters might help explain why elected officials have been reluctant to make difficult decisions to solve the State of Illinois’ fiscal crisis. The…
This article is about how some Chicago-area public transit agencies increased wages ahead of the economic recession, despite warnings that revenues would decline. The Civic Federation says such pay increases are unreasonable, given that…
This article focuses on Mayor Daley’s plans to fill the City of Chicago’s FY2011 budget gap with surplus TIF funds, proceeds from long-term leases of City assets, and by restructuring the City’s debt. The Civic Federation says it has…
In this article about Mayor Daley’s plans to balance the City of Chicago FY2011 budget with a combination of one-time revenues, the Civic Federation says the plan, while politically palatable, is not sustainable. The Federation adds that…
This segment on the City Room news program discusses a recent report that found the State of Illinois ranks as the slowest state in the nation in paying its bills to nonprofits. Civic Federation President Laurence Msall says the State is…
The State appears one step closer to implementing new performance measurement requirements that may significantly improve the General Assembly’s annual budget appropriations process. Illinois Senate President John Cullerton…
The State of Illinois is allowed to carry bills from one fiscal year through a specified period of time in the next fiscal year. This period of time—known as the lapse period—has been extended for FY2010 from two months to six months to…
This article discusses remarks made to the public by Illinois gubernatorial candidates Rich Whitney and Illinois Governor Pat Quinn after a Civic Federation forum.
This article explores City of Chicago Mayor Richard Daley’s plans to close a $654.7 million budget gap with a mix of tax increment financing and reserve funds, cuts, and debt restructuring. The Civic Federation says drawing down reserves…
This article discusses a delay in the mailing of Cook County property tax bills to around November 22, a month later than 2009’s mailing. The Civic Federation says that because of the delay, local governments may have to borrow money for…