Taxes and Fees

.

Estimated Full Value of Cook County Real Estate: 2005 Property Tax Assessment by Class for Property Tax Payable in 2006

This report provides estimates of the total market value of real property in Cook County from 1996-2005 and shows how property value is spread among the City of Chicago, the northern and the southern suburbs. From 1996-2005, the value of…

.

Effective Property Tax Rates: Selected Municipalities in Northeastern Illinois, 1999-2005

This report compares property tax rates in selected communities around metropolitan Chicago, and finds that effective rates for commercial property in Chicago declined by nearly 50 percent between tax years 1999 and 2005.

.

Chicago Public Schools FY2008 Recommended Budget: Analysis and Recommendations

The Civic Federation gives qualified support to the Chicago Public Schools Recommended 5.8 billion dollar FY2008 operating budget. The District has made efforts to contain costs and improve budget transparency. However, the Civic…

.

City Colleges of Chicago FY2008 Tentative Budget: Analysis and Recommendations

The Civic Federation supports the City Colleges of Chicago's tentative $473.6 million FY2008 budget because the district will reduce its overall property tax burden, exercize fiscal restraint, and has increased the amount of time allowed…

.

State of Illinois FY2008 Recommended Operating Budget: Analysis and Recommendations

The Civic Federation opposes the massive expansion of health care and long-term borrowing proposed in the FY2008 State budget recommendation, but offers qualified support for sale/lease of the State lottery and for reasonable revenue…

.

Effects of the "7% Cap" on Property Tax Paid in Cook County: 2002-2008, Including the Projected Effects of Eliminating, Renewing, or Expanding the Homeowner Exemption for 2006-2008

This comprehensive property tax study examines the effects of the "7% cap" (expanded homeowner exemption) on property tax throughout Cook County from 2002-2005, and projected 2006-2008. The report breaks out more categories of property and…

.

Civic Federation 2007 Legislative Priorities

The Civic Federation's legislative priorities for 2007 include public pension reform, property tax exemptions and assessment reform, revision of the Regional Transportation Authority Act, tax increment financing disclosure, timely county…

.

Cook County FY2007 Proposed Budget: Analysis and Recommendations

The Civic Federation offers qualified support for Cook County’s FY2007 Budget based on the County’s plan to meet its 502 million dollar budget deficit with substantial spending cuts rather than tax increases. The Civic Federation opposes,…

.

Metropolitan Water Reclamation District FY2007 Tentative Budget: Analysis and Recommendations

The Civic Federation supported the MWRD's FY2007 Budget because it minimizes the burden on taxpayers and implements sound financial planning techniques. Notably, the MWRD has adopted a policy establishing an irrevocable trust for funding…

.

Chicago Park District FY2007 Operating Budget Recommendations: Analysis and Recommendations

The Civic Federation supported the Chicago Park District's FY2007 Budget because the District did not raise its property tax levy this year, and has held down operating costs through a combination of careful management practices,…