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…
This report explains the laws and funding mechanisms applicable to charter schools in Illinois and investigates how Illinois charter schools affect the finances of their host school districts. It includes three in-depth case studies of…
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…
CIVIC FEDERATION COMMENDS CITY COLLEGES LEADERSHIP FOR FISCAL RESTRAINT District to Reduce Overall Property Tax Burden 7.8% in FY2008 The Civic Federation will announce its support of the $473.6 million FY2008 City Colleges of Chicago…
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…
This report reviews the features and costs of the current State of Illinois employee group health insurance program, examines the fiscal impact of the program on the State operating budget, and makes policy recommendations for containing…
This report compares Illinois school districts' financial management and accountability standards with nationwide best practices, and makes policy recommendations regarding steps Illinois should take to ensure greater financial…
This report provides a trend analysis of indicators that measure the financial health and performance of ten major local government pension funds from 1997 to 2005. It finds a combined 16.5 billion dollars in unfunded liabilities for the…
This issue brief describes dedicated revenue sources for state pension funds and recent proposals for dedicated revenue sources in Illinois. It then discusses important features of an effective dedicated pension revenue source.
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…
