Government Budgets

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Medicaid 101: How $337.5 Million Turns Into $675 Million

A key component of Governor Pat Quinn’s proposal to close the State of Illinois’ $2.7 billion Medicaid funding gap in FY2013 is an…

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Largest State Pension Fund Calls for Major Reforms in FY2013

The Teachers’ Retirement System of the State of Illinois (TRS) has concluded that it can no longer rely on the State to follow the law for funding its five retirement systems and that sweeping changes are needed to sustain the pension…

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Changes to the Forest Preserve District’s Resident Watchmen Program

In return for watching over District land and serving as a deterrent to crime or misuse, the Forest Preserve District of Cook County rents housing on its property to employees at drastically discounted rates through its Resident Watchmen…

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Illinois House Proposes Reductions to Governor’s FY2013 Budget

The Illinois House has approved a spending plan for FY2013 that would cut the State of Illinois’ expenditures from the level proposed by Governor Pat Quinn and use an additional budget surplus to reduce the State’s backlog of unpaid bills…

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One Fewer Illinois Government? Evanston Voters Favor Dissolving Township.

Evanston voters overwhelmingly approved a non-binding advisory referendum to dissolve Evanston Township in the March 20, 2012 election. Election results show that 66.9% of voters supported the measure while 33.0% opposed it. Legally…

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Come off the Sidelines

This Tribune editorial urged advocacy groups to join those calling for reforms to the State of Illinois’ Medicaid program and pension systems because rising costs in these areas are increasingly squeezing out funding for all other State…

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Legislative Scholarship Program Under Scrutiny Again

On March 21, 2012, the Illinois House passed House Bill 3810 with a 79 to 25 vote, a bill that…

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State Seeks Early Medicaid Expansion for Troubled Cook County Health System

UPDATE: On May 24, 2012 the Illinois General Assembly approved legislation to permit Cook County’s public health system to obtain federal funding for medical services for low-income adults under the Medicaid program. The plan must still be…

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The Cook County Property Tax Administration Office

At its next meeting, the Committee on Legislation and Intergovernmental Relations of the Cook County Board of Commissioners will consider a…

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Tax-friendly attitude hasn't helped Illinois

This article discusses the severe financial challenges that persist in Illinois, despite last year’s tax increases. The Civic Federation says that revenue increases alone will not solve the problem; the State needs to implement structural…