As Illinois approaches the end of its second year without a complete budget, lawmakers are debating a new plan to provide partial funding for higher education and human services. This blog post examines the size of the funding gap and how…
The Civic Federation co-hosted a conference with the Federal Reserve Bank of Chicago on April 19, 2017 entitled, “Chicago’s Fiscal Future: Growth or Insolvency?” Experts, practitioners and academics from around the country gathered to…
Links to each presentation can be found within the forum's agenda below: --- 7:30 a.m. to 8:00 a.m. — Registration and Continental Breakfast Badge Pickup and Security Inspection in the Lobby 8:00 a.m.…
This article discusses a proposal by Governor Bruce Rauner that would freeze property taxes in Illinois and the financial repercussions it could have on the State’s local governments. Civic Federation President Laurence Msall…
This article examines proposed legislation that would create a Local Government Protection Authority in Illinois, a longtime priority of the Civic Federation. In his testimony at an Illinois House committee hearing regarding the bill,…
On March 22, two State Senate committees heard testimony on Illinois’ fiscal crisis. The not surprising message of the nearly three-hour hearing: the State’s budget problems have built up over many years, driven largely by rising pension…
This segment discusses a recent Illinois Senate Appropriations Committee hearing and how the State of Illinois has gone without a budget for more than 20 months. During his testimony at the hearing, Civic Federation President Laurence…
This article discusses a recent Illinois Senate Appropriations Committee hearing where legislators heard testimony regarding the State’s continued spending far in excess of its known revenues due to the absence of a budget. During his…
This segment discusses how nearly eight years after the City’s failed Olympic bid, Chicago taxpayers are still paying for the unused Michael Reese site. Civic Federation President Laurence Msall remarks that the site is the worst financial…
In addition to many other obstacles to achieving a balanced budget, Illinois now faces another setback this week, this time in the form of under-performing revenues. A…
