Government Budgets

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States Consider Shift from Traditional Pension Plans

Faced with mounting pension costs, the State of Illinois and a number of other states are considering moving away from traditional pension plans.…

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State Revenue Under Forecasts to Produce Cuts From New York to California

This article discusses the negative effect that revenue declines are having on the fiscal condition of states’ budgets. The Civic Federation says that the State of Illinois will not grow out its way out of fiscal trouble and that it must…

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Mayor plays his hand

This article discusses City of Chicago Mayor Rahm Emanuel’s proposed FY2012 budget for the City. The Civic Federation says the proposal is good first step and helps guide the City in a good fiscal direction.

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Kirk report diagnose Illinois’ 'unsustainable' debt

This article is about an advisory report about the State of Illinois debt load, issued by U.S. Senator Mark Kirk, which cites IIFS’ “Cost of the Crisis” report from 2010.

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The Civic Federation’s Laurence Msall Discusses Illinois’ Dire Finances, Reforms

Civic Federation President Laurence Msall is interviewed about the State of Illinois’ fiscal problems.

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Biggest states face new budget gaps

This article profiles the budget troubles faced by a number of states. It cites IIFS’ analysis of the State of Illinois’ FY2012 enacted budget, which found that Illinois will face $8.3 billion in unpaid bills.

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Chicago Mayor Trashes Politics of Waste Removal

This article discusses City of Chicago Mayor Rahm Emanuel’s plans to overhaul the City’s trash collection system to reduce costs to taxpayers. The Civic Federation says that the City needs to cut costs because it has had a recent history…

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Business leaders back Emanuel budget

City of Chicago Mayor Rahm Emanuel’s budget plans to close a $635.7 million budget gap are the focus of this article. The Civic Federation says the budget proposal avoids short-term solutions that would worsen the City’s long-term fiscal…

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Emanuel Budget Cuts Deep, But Some Sacred Cows Untouched

This article examines City of Chicago Mayor Rahm Emanuel’s preliminary FY2012 budget plans, which includes a 5.4 percent reduction in spending. The Civic Federation says the cuts would be the most significant in over a decade, but adds…

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Chicago’s Mayor Takes Aim at Deficit

In this article about the City of Chicago’s budget proposal for FY2012, the Civic Federation says the proposal may help guide the City toward better financial footing.