Government Budgets

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Chicago Schools Seen as City’s Next Hurdle as Pension Bill Looms

This article discusses the difficult financial choices Chicago Public Schools is facing as it approaches a $634 million pension payment due June 30 and a $1.1 billion deficit for the fiscal year beginning July 1. The Civic Federation said…

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City Council Approves Major Debt Restructuring and Future Capital Borrowing

On June 17, 2015 the Chicago City Council approved the largest borrowing of Mayor Rahm Emanuel’s tenure, totaling $1.1 billion. The issuance pays for the current costs of refinancing the City of Chicago’s variable rate debt, ending its…

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Illinois Legislature Passes $36.3 Billion FY2016 Spending Plan

The Illinois General Assembly has approved a $36.3 billion general operating budget for the upcoming fiscal year with an acknowledged shortfall of at least $3.0 billion in revenues. The package of approximately 20 appropriation bills and…

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Can CPS be saved?

This editorial discusses the $1.1 billion deficit Chicago Public Schools is facing and the decisions the District will need to make before the fall school year begins. It cites the Civic Federation’s…

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How can CPS make looming pension payment and payroll? That's the 'magic question'

This article covers the tough financial choices Chicago Public Schools is facing coming into the fall 2015 school year, including a $634 million pension payment. The Civic Federation discussed the District’s difficult options: severe…

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Emanuel's pension plan: Relief on payments, casino to pay for it

This article discusses Mayor Emanuel’s plan to tackle a sharp increase in required payments to the City’s pension funds next year, based on a 2010 law aimed at bringing the City’s Police and Fire pension funds back to 90 percent funded by…

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Civic Federation rips "unrealistic" Rauner budget

This article discusses the FY2016 Recommended Budget Analysis released by the Institute for Illinois’ Fiscal Sustainability at the Civic Federation. The Civic…

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Civic Federation rejects Rauner's budget as 'unachievable'

This article covers an analysis released on the Governor’s FY2016 Recommended Budget by the Civic Federation’s Institute for Illinois’ Fiscal Sustainability. The…

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Fiscal watchdog slams 'unrealistic' cuts in proposed Illinois budget

This article covers the FY2016 Recommended Budget Analysis released by the Civic Federation’s Institute for Illinois’ Fiscal Sustainability on May 7. The analysis…

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Watchdog Group: Chicago casino wouldn't fix city's budget problem

This segment reports on recent proposals for a casino in the City of Chicago intended to generate revenue for the City, primarily to pay down unfunded pension liabilities. The Civic Federation said it is unclear how much revenue a new…