Government Budgets

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Cloudy Mid-Year Financials for MWRD May Mean Choppy Waters Ahead

Last week the Metropolitan Water Reclamation District Board of Commissioners held a public…

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Illinois paying for fiscal woes

Illinois’ increasing cost of borrowing is the focus of this article. The Civic Federation says businesses are reconsidering plans to invest in Illinois because of uncertainty over the State’s long-term tax policies and fiscal health.

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Cook County Commissioners Approve Strategic Plan for County Health System

On July 14, 2010, Cook County Commissioners approved by a vote of 9 to 3 a strategic plan to reorient the County’s health system more toward outpatient care and away from inpatient hospital services. The five-year plan calls for closing…

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Unbalanced State Budget Triggered Downgrades

Almost immediately after the Illinois General Assembly approved an unbalanced budget for FY2011, two of the three major rating agencies downgraded the state’s debt ratings. It…

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Our View: Quinn’s budget provides no real help or answers

This editorial is about the State of Illinois’ FY2011 enacted budget. It mentions the Civic Federation’s alternative budget recommendations as one of several possible solutions overlooked by legislators.

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Mending Medicaid

This editorial discusses recent efforts to reform Illinois’ Medicaid system. It cites a finding in the Civic Federation’s “Fiscal Rehabilitation Plan for…

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Illinois Stops Paying Its Bills, But Can’t Stop Digging Hole

This article describes how Illinois' budget crisis is affecting schools, universities and social services across the state. The Civic Federation is quoted saying that the State's budget situation has been getting worse, financed by more…

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Governor Announces Cuts, But FY2011 Budget Remains Unbalanced

On July 1, 2010—the first day of the State of Illinois’ FY2011 fiscal year—Governor Pat Quinn said that his budget for the new year will contain major spending cuts. However, most of the reductions have yet to be determined and the FY2011…

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Sales Taxes: Reports and Projections

Last month the State of Illinois Commission on Government Forecasting and Accountability (COGFA) released a report entitled “…

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Experts Weigh In On Fixing Illinois

This article about Governor Quinn’s plan to sign the FY2011 Illinois budget passed by the Illinois General Assembly mentions that State legislators have not followed recommendations made by the Civic Federation in its analyses of the State…