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City of Chicago

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Working Capital in Large Cities

This blog continues the Civic Federation’s examination of indicators that can be used to measure the financial health of local governments. In order to measure financial condition, it is important to…

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Sergeants Reject Contract Proposed by City and Union Leadership

After the City and leadership of the Chicago Police Sergeants’ union agreed to a tentative contract that included pay raises and significant pension reforms, rank-and-file union members rejected…

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Chicagoans' Long-Term Debt and Pension Obligations Per Capita Rose 185% Since 2002

This blog examines some of the long-term obligations of the City of Chicago and its overlapping local governments using a per capita indicator based on bonded debt and unfunded pension liabilities. Rating agencies and other financial…

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Cigarette and Tobacco Tax Changes Affect Chicago Consumers

In the past year, Chicago residents have experienced several increases in the taxes imposed on cigarette and tobacco purchases. The new rates are shown in the following chart and are described in more detail below. (Click to enlarge.)…

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Estimated Effective Property Tax Rates 2001-2010: Selected Municipalities in Northeastern Illinois

This report compares effective property tax rates in selected communities around metropolitan Chicago and finds that effective tax rates in 2010 for residential and commercial properties rose for each of the 32 municipalities studied.…

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Korshak Settlement and the RHBC

Since 1988 the City of Chicago and its four pension funds have been party to the settlement of City of Chicago v. Korshak regarding how much the City, the funds and annuitants pay for healthcare. The City pays for a portion of the retiree…

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City Council's Proposed Independent Budget Office, A Civic Federation Recommendation

On December 12, 2012, an ordinance to create an independent budget office was…

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What’s Next for Local Governments in 2013?

A look back at the Civic Federation’s blog this year provides a preview of upcoming fiscal challenges for local governments in 2013. Pension Funding The most urgent fiscal challenge for Illinois governments continues to be the pension…

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Civic Federation Recommendations for the Chicago-area Local Governments

Last week the Civic Federation marked the end of the FY2013 budget season with a blog that summarized the proposed budgets for the nine local governments the Federation…

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FY2013 Budget Season Summary

Last week marked the end of the budget season for the nine local governments monitored by the Civic Federation. These governments include: the City Colleges of Chicago, Chicago Public Schools (CPS), DuPage County, City of Chicago, Cook…