Government Budgets

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Moody’s Goes Negative on Illinois Debt

Citing reliance on one-time revenue sources, such as borrowing, to try and close its FY2011 operating shortfall, Moody’s Investors Service…

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Medicaid Update: Illinois’ Stimulus Funding Less Than Budgeted

  The State of Illinois will receive less federal Medicaid funding than it budgeted for in FY2011—but more than had been feared several months ago. After months of debate, Congress in August of 2010 passed and President Obama signed a…

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Funding Cliffs in Municipal Budgets

The Civic Federation often voices concerns when governments use one-time or nonrecurring revenue sources for ongoing expenses. There are a number of reasons this can be problematic. By definition such revenue sources will not be…

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State of Illinois Begins Borrowing Special Funds

Only two months into the new fiscal year, the State of Illinois has already begun pushing FY2011 operating costs into the next fiscal year.  By borrowing cash on hand in the State’s special funds, rather than sweeping it, the State…

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Cost-Cutting Proposals on Tap for MWRD – Part III

Over the past two weeks the Civic Federation blogged here and…

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State Budget Gaps: Debt Holes Deepen

This news segment is about how some states are coping with severe budgetary troubles in the current recessed economy. In a discussion of the State of Illinois, Civic Federation President Laurence Msall says Illinois’ fiscal troubles are…

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State must lead way if communities are to regain financial stability

This opinion piece explores the effect that the State of Illinois’ fiscal crisis is having on the community of Oak Park. The Civic Federation says the State’s problems are likely to become worse and that deeper pension program reforms are…

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Our View: State shouldn’t steal from future to pay for pensions

In this editorial about how the State of Illinois should address its pension funding issues, the Civic Federation says that if the State borrows more money, it risks further downgrades to its bond ratings and higher interest rates.

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Costs mount as state wallows in fiscal misery

This editorial about the State of Illinois’ fiscal woes discusses findings in the Civic Federation’s “Cost of the Crisis” report.

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Connected to Chicago – Civic Federation President Laurence Msall

Bill Cameron interviews Civic Federation President Laurence Msall about findings in the Federation’s “Cost of the Crisis” report.