Government Budgets

.

Medicaid cuts would squeeze struggling hospitals even more

This article discusses Governor Quinn’s proposal  to cut $2.7 billion from the State’s Medicaid program. It cites the Civic Federation’s report that General Funds costs for…

.

Illinois' Quinn Stresses Pension and Medicaid Reform

This article discusses Governor Quinn’s call to stabilize the State’s pensions and restructure the Medicaid program. The article cites the Civic Federation’s projection that, without action, the State’s unpaid bills could rise to $34.8…

.

Chicago Park District Approves Tax Subsidy to Institute of Puerto Rican Arts and Culture

On February 8, 2012, the Chicago Park District Board of Commissioners unanimously voted to provide the Institute of Puerto Rican Arts and Culture (IPRAC) $243,407 in funds from the District’s personal property tax replacement (PPRT)…

.

Time for Illinois to save Honest Abe's reputation

In advance of Governor Pat Quinn's budget address on February 22, this op-ed by Civic Federation President Laurence Msall discusses Illinois' damaged fiscal reputation. The piece offers recommendations for stabilizing the State's finances…

.

Senate Hearing Sets Stage for Governor’s FY2013 Budget Recommendation

A week before Governor Pat Quinn’s FY2013 budget address, a panel of Illinois State senators met in Chicago to hear testimony on the State’s major budget challenges: rising Medicaid costs and unfunded pension liabilities. The Senate’s two…

.

No Quorum for Cook County Public Hearing

On February 14, 2012, the Civic Federation blogged about its support for a…

.

Proposed Referendum to Merge County Clerk and Recorder

(See addendum: "No Quorum for Cook County Public Hearing") On February 14, 2012 the Finance Committee of the Cook County Board of Commissioners will hold a…

.

Fiscal Oversight Commission Lowers State Revenue Projections

In its most recent monthly briefing, the State of Illinois Commission on Government Forecasting and Accountability (COGFA) published new revenue projections for…

.

Legislators Rarely Know Cost of Laws they Pass

(The full text of this article is available only to the publication’s subscribers.) This article reports that laws passed by the Illinois General Assembly are rarely accompanied by “fiscal notes” which detail a law’s financial impact on…

.

Municipal Bankruptcy

Municipalities and other local governments in the United States continue to struggle financially in the aftermath of the Great Recession. While recession has technically ended, revenues for many governments have not returned to pre-…