Government Efficiency and Transparency

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How Should the City of Chicago Evaluate Property Tax Increases?

Throughout the 2023 Chicago mayoral campaign, Mayor Johnson stated that it was his intention to avoid increasing property taxes, citing concerns…

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Chicago City Council should be reduced by half, Civic Federation recommends

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The Illinois General Assembly Should Increase Transparency and Access by Posting Videos of Hearings Online

This week, the Civic Federation released its annual analysis of the State of Illinois Budget for FY2024. Among the recommendations made to the Governor and lawmakers was a call…

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Early Trends in Online ARPA Reporting by Cities

This blog examines online reporting of American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) spending and performance measures by major U.S. cities. A key component of ARPA was a $350 billion infusion of federal funding to state, local and Tribal governments…

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William J. Brodsky and The Inland Real Estate Group Honored at 2022 Civic Federation Hybrid Awards Luncheon

The Civic Federation’s Annual Civic Awards Luncheon, now in its 40th year, recognizes civic leadership in Chicago. Named for the Federation’s founding members, the Lyman J. Gage Award and the Addams-Palmer Award recognize the outstanding…

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Year One in the Office of the Clerk of the Circuit Court of Cook County

The Office of the Clerk of the Circuit Court of Cook County saw a change in leadership for the first time in 20 years in 2020. The change in administration presented an opportunity for meaningful reform of an office that had been notorious…

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New Directions for the Office of the Clerk of the Cook County Circuit Court: First Year in Office Progress Report

Click here to read the full report.

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Civic Federation to Honor IDHS Secretary Grace Hou with 30th Annual Excellence in Public Service Award

On Thursday, December 9, the Civic Federation will honor Illinois Department of Human Services (IDHS) Secretary Grace B. Hou with the 30th Annual Motorola Solutions Foundation Excellence in Public Service Award. The award, presented and…

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City of Chicago Introduces Monthly Revenue Reporting

On April 21, 2021, the City of Chicago adopted Substitute Ordinance 2020-5902,…

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Breaking Down the Issue of Public Access to Judicial Branch Data in Illinois

UPDATE - February 23 2022:  This blog has been updated with corrections to the information about other states where court data is subject to disclosure through FOIA laws or court rules, under the section “How Illinois FOIA Law…