Recent Research

• 12.09.09

  Metropolitan Water Reclamation District FY2010 Tentative Budget: Analysis and Recommendations

  The Civic Federation supports the Metropolitan Water Reclamation District’s FY2010 Tentative Budget of nearly $1.7 billion as a prudent response to revenue shortfalls. The MWRD plans to prioritize spending, control personnel costs, and implement a modest increase to its property tax levy to balance its budget. The Federation cautions the District, however, that substantial changes may be necessary to stem growing pension liabilities.

• 12.02.09

  Chicago Park District FY2010 Operating Budget Recommendations: Analysis and Recommendations

  The Civic Federation offers qualified support for the FY2010 Chicago Park District’s proposed operating budget of $391.9 million. The District is proposing a responsible budget that reduces expenditures and holds the property tax levy flat by using operating efficiencies, personnel cuts and a modest increase in certain fees to balance the budget.

  This support is qualified because the District’s budget proposes closing $7.7 million of its budget gap with proceeds from the parking garage lease that were initially set aside for capital projects.

• 11.17.09

  Cook County Property Tax Appeals: A Primer on the Appeals Process with Comparative Data for 2000-2008

  The purpose of this issue brief is to provide summary information on property tax appeals in Cook County, Illinois. It describes the assessment appeal process at the Cook County Assessor’s Office and the Cook County Board of Review and includes data on the number and type of real estate parcels filing appeals at those offices from 2000 to 2008. It also describes avenues to appeal property assessments at the Property Tax Appeal Board or in the court system.