This article discusses the City of Chicago’s billion-dollar plan to build the George Lucas Museum of Narrative Art that will require borrowing and tax increases. Laurence Msall, President of the Civic Federation, explains that until an…
This article examines the amount of borrowing and tax increases necessary for the City to construct the George Lucas Museum of Narrative Art. Laurence Msall, President of the Civic Federation, notes that it would be difficult to prioritize…
This article discusses a recent state budget forum featuring a panel of eight Illinois lawmakers providing their respective insights on Illinois’ current financial crisis. Civic Federation President Laurence Msall co-moderated the…
This segment examines how the State of Illinois has been spending billions of dollars in revenue even in the absence of an FY2016 budget. Laurence Msall, President of the Civic Federation, notes that the impasse creates tremendous burdens…
As the State of Illinois’ budget impasse continues to drag on, it is commonly overlooked that the underlying economy and tax base in the State continue to grow. In FY2017 the State of Illinois is projected to have an additional $631…
This annual brief provides a compilation of selected consumer taxes, including rates and descriptions, in place in the City of Chicago as of May 1, 2016. It includes such taxes as the sales tax, amusement tax, lease tax, hotel tax,…
Consumers of electronic cigarettes in the City of Chicago and Cook County as a whole will pay new taxes in 2016. As part of their FY2016 budget processes the City of Chicago and Cook County both expanded their taxes on tobacco products to…
This editorial features recommendations found in the Civic Federation’s FY2017 Budget Roadmap and discusses Illinois’ potentially bleak future if steps aren’t…
