Gov. JB Pritzker blames 'Trump slump' for difficult budget year
by Mitchell ArmentroutJune 16, 2025
by Daniel VeseckyAs the Chicago Public Schools (CPS or the “District”) has concluded the collective bargaining process with the Chicago Teachers…
by A.D. Quig, Olivia Olander, and Jeremy…
by Ben SzalinskiJune 6, 2025
Dear Governor Pritzker, President Harmon, Speaker Welch, Leader Curran, and Leader McCombie:As we enter the final days of session, our collection of civic organizations is concerned about a final push for pension legislation that could…
By Lily Padula Illinois has the largest number of local government units of any state in the U.S., at a whopping 8,923 local governments as of 2019, according to a Civic Federation report…
By Daniel Vesecky Please note: This report reflects the most current information available as of May 22, 2025, and will be updated on an ongoing basis as the situation evolves. We welcome suggestions and updates at communications@…
By Roland CaliaIntroductionState debt burden—a state’s total financial liability from various forms of borrowing, including bonds, loans, and related financing instruments—is one of the core indicators of a government’s fiscal health,…
By Lily PadulaThe Civic Federation has long advocated for the abolition of unnecessary, duplicative, and unaccountable units of local government, including townships. These proliferate in greater number in Illinois, which has…