Government Budgets

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Halftime In Springfield, Illinois Still Without A Budget

This segment discusses a recent Illinois Senate Appropriations Committee hearing and how the State of Illinois has gone without a budget for more than 20 months. During his testimony at the hearing, Civic Federation President Laurence…

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Budgetless Illinois Is Overspending By $6B, Experts Say

This article discusses a recent Illinois Senate Appropriations Committee hearing where legislators heard testimony regarding the State’s continued spending far in excess of its known revenues due to the absence of a budget. During his…

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2 Investigators: Chicago Still Paying For Failed Olympic Bid

This segment discusses how nearly eight years after the City’s failed Olympic bid, Chicago taxpayers are still paying for the unused Michael Reese site. Civic Federation President Laurence Msall remarks that the site is the worst financial…

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Revenue Underperformance Adds to the Difficulty of Balancing Illinois’ Budget

In addition to many other obstacles to achieving a balanced budget, Illinois now faces another setback this week, this time in the form of under-performing revenues. A…

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Chicago Public Schools Amends FY2017 Budget Again but Funding Gap Remains

Chicago Public Schools (CPS) recently adopted its second amended budget of the 2017 fiscal year in an effort to balance its budget and close a $215.2 million hole before its fiscal year ends on June 30, 2017. Chicago Public Schools…

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Emanuel saves $4.25M by refinancing Michael Reese debt — again

This article discusses the $4.25 million in savings generated by the City of Chicago’s second refinancing of the loan for the site of the former Michael Reese Hospital. Laurence Msall, President of the Civic Federation, remarks that it’s…

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Governor’s FY2018 Budget Proposal Unbalanced, Depends on Senate Grand Bargain

As Illinois endured its 20th month without a complete budget, Governor Bruce Rauner proposed a financial plan for the upcoming fiscal year with a significant operating deficit and no details on how to address the State’s multi-billion…

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Possible Thompson Center Sale Is Small, Positive Sign

This segment discusses the possible sale of the State of Illinois’ James R. Thompson Center. Laurence Msall, President of the Civic Federation, says that the sale of the building could be a positive development for the State but also…

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Coverage of FY2018 State of Illinois Budget Roadmap

The following news items cover the release of the Institute for Illinois’ Fiscal Sustainability at the Civic Federation's State of Illinois FY2018…

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Strong Medicine Needed to Cure Illinois’ Fiscal Ills

The Institute for Illinois’ Fiscal Sustainability at the Civic Federation today released its annual Roadmap, with recommendations to restore fiscal balance…