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Taxes and Fees

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Metropolitan Water Reclamation District FY2017 Tentative Budget: Analysis and Recommendations

The Civic Federation supports the Metropolitan Water Reclamation District’s FY2017 Tentative budget of $1.13 billion because the District continues to demonstrate a sensible and proactive approach to meeting its financial challenges. As…

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Tax hikes have eased—but not cured—city's budget woes, watchdog says

This article covers the Civic Federation’s recent analysis of the City of Chicago’s FY2017 proposed budget. The Federation supports the City’s FY2017 budget because it…

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City of Chicago Proposes Tax on Disposable Bags

On October 11, 2016, Mayor Rahm Emanuel presented his recommended FY2017 budget to the Chicago City…

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State of Illinois Diversions of Transportation Funds

How much of the State of Illinois’ transportation funding has been diverted for other uses? The issue has attracted new attention because of a …

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Civic Federation questions Emanuel’s utility tax plan

This article discusses the Civic Federation’s call for a full actuarial analysis of the City of Chicago’s plan to save the City’s Municipal Employees Pension Fund and questions whether it may be enough. Civic Federation President Laurence…

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Cook County Board spending way more on staffs than collar county boards

This article discusses the cost to Cook County taxpayers of separate staffs for each of the 17 Cook County Commissioners. Civic Federation President Laurence Msall remarks that the situation lends itself to further examination and notes…

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Led by Chicago, Cook County property values continue recovery

This article discusses findings included in the Civic Federation’s recent Estimated Full Value of Real Property in…

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Evanston Township Dissolution Saves Taxpayers Nearly $780,000

The City of Evanston recently released a white paper on the initial results following the dissolution of its coterminous township. Based on the results…

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Emanuel's pension bill: $1.1 billion a year—and counting

This article reports on the amount in tax increases that the City of Chicago will need to stabilize the City’s major government pension plans. Laurence Msall, President of the Civic Federation, says the tax hikes are reasonable and better…

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Estimated Full Value of Real Estate in Cook County Increases for Second Year in a Row

The full market value of real estate in Cook County was approximately $499.1 billion in tax assessment year 2014 according to an annual estimate released today by the Civic Federation. The 2014 total value estimate represents an increase…