This report examines the State of Illinois’ $53.5 billion operating budget for Fiscal Year 2011, which began on July 1, 2010 and ends on June 30, 2011. The report focuses on the $25.8 billion General Funds budget, the largest component of…
This article compares the different statements made by think tank organizations about the extent of Illinois’ fiscal issues. The Civic Federation says that while State employees are not overpaid, they do receive very generous retirement…
This news segment discusses the proposal by the owner of the Chicago Cubs to fix Wrigley Field using funds from a State of Illinois bond issuance. Civic Federation President Laurence Msall says it’s too early to tell if the plan will be a…
The layoff of police officers in suburban Chicago communities is the focus of this article. The Civic Federation says that the current economic climate and the State of Illinois’ fiscal issues have forced municipalities to make the hard…
This article about the State of Illinois’ possible plans to borrow to make its required pension contribution cites a Civic Federation blog post “…
In this article about the City of Chicago’s FY2011 budget, the Civic Federation says the City’s short-sighted budgeting has had a major effect on the City’s costs of borrowing.
The Civic Federation’s Cost of the Crisis report is cited in this article about the State of Illinois’ plan to issue bonds backed by Illinois’ share of the 1998 tobacco settlement.
This article discusses a proposal by the family that owns the Chicago Cubs to have the State of Illinois borrow $300 million in a bond deal to make improvements to Wrigley Field. The Civic Federation says that such a deal should be…
The Civic Federation's legislative priorities for 2011 include public pension reform, requiring state government to develop and implement a capital improvement plan, the dissolving of the Illinois International Port District, creating a…
When the General Assembly reconvenes next week for its annual veto session, it is expected to continue deliberating whether to borrow in FY2011 to make its required pension payment. If approved, the borrowing plan would lighten the load on…
