Government Efficiency and Transparency

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Chicago Budget a First Step Toward Improved City Finances

Civic Federation Urges Mayor, City Council to Get Moving on Pension Reform The Civic Federation announced its support for the proposed $6.3 billion FY2012 City of Chicago Budget today. The Federation’s full 106-page report not only reviews…

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City of Chicago FY2012 Proposed Budget: Analysis and Recommendations

The Civic Federation supports the proposed FY2012 City of Chicago budget of nearly $6.3 billion because it takes effective action to reduce the City’s structural deficit through significant expenditure reductions and targeted revenue…

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DuPage County Budget Cuts Spending, Freezes Property Tax

Civic Federation Encourages County to Fully Implement Planning Policies (CHICAGO) The Civic Federation supports the proposed $434.7 million DuPage County budget for FY2012 because it cuts spending for the third year in a row while holding…

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DuPage County Proposed FY2012 Budget: Analysis and Recommendations

The Civic Federation supports the DuPage County Proposed FY2012 Financial Plan of $434.7 million. The County is reducing expenditures for the third year in a row while pledging to maintain the existing level of service and keep the…

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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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Grid vs. ward: Why are we still debating?

This editorial discusses the proposed conversion of some ward-based services in the City of Chicago to grid-based. It mentions the Civic Federation’s support for such a change, as detailed in the Federation’s “Recommendations for a…

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Cops and Firefighters: The Public Sector’s New Untouchable Upper Class?

This article discusses the issues surrounding efforts to reduce public workforces, especially with regard to public safety employees, in order to fill budget gaps. The article cites the Civic Federation’s “…

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Update: Plan to Close Oak Forest Hospital Approved

After twice rejecting the plan, a State of Illinois board voted on August 16, 2011 to allow Cook County to close Oak Forest Hospital. The Illinois Health Facilities and Services Review Board approved the proposal by a vote of 7 to 1, with…

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County may retake some health system duties

Cook County President Toni Preckwinkle’s exploration of the possibility of transferring some Cook County Health and Hospital System responsibilities, such as human resources and purchasing, back to Cook County is the focus of this article…

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Cook County Produces STAR Performance Management Report

In many of its past reports, the Civic Federation has recommended that local governments integrate performance management into their budgeting process and make that information public. In the…