Government Efficiency and Transparency

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Chicago’s Fiscal Future: Growth or Insolvency?

Links to each presentation can be found within the forum's agenda below: --- 7:30 a.m. to 8:00 a.m. — Registration and Continental Breakfast Badge Pickup and Security Inspection in the Lobby 8:00 a.m.…

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Transform Illinois Coalition Pushes Ahead on Government Consolidation

While Illinois lawmakers remain gridlocked over a State budget plan, another area shows promise of compromise in Springfield: government consolidation. With over 6,900 local government units, Illinois has…

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Cook County Streamlines Board Meeting Procedures

The Cook County Board of Commissioners has reorganized its board meeting proceedings in an effort to streamline board meetings. Beginning in January 2017, the Consent Calendar portion of the meeting is now held on the second Tuesday of…

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Cook County Electorate Approves Ballot Measure to Merge Recorder of Deeds and County Clerk

On November 8, 2016, the Cook County electorate voted on the binding referendum to merge the Office of the Cook County Recorder of Deeds and the Office of the Cook County Clerk. The Cook County Board of Commissioners voted in June 2016 to…

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Civic Federation recommends CPS open up on financial situation

This article reports on a recent Civic Federation issue brief that includes a number of…

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Chicago Public Schools Transparency in Budget Documents, Websites and Government Proceedings

This brief, developed by a Civic Federation Task Force, features a number of recommendations on ways the Chicago Public Schools can increase government transparency and accountability, including transparency in meetings, website…

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Should Recorder of Deeds be Combined with Clerk’s Office?

This segment examines a binding Cook County referendum on the November ballot that would…

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Cook County Board spending way more on staffs than collar county boards

This article discusses the cost to Cook County taxpayers of separate staffs for each of the 17 Cook County Commissioners. Civic Federation President Laurence Msall remarks that the situation lends itself to further examination and notes…

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Evanston Township Dissolution Saves Taxpayers Nearly $780,000

The City of Evanston recently released a white paper on the initial results following the dissolution of its coterminous township. Based on the results…

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Cook County Electorate to Vote on Referendum to Merge the Recorder of Deeds with the County Clerk

On June 29, 2016 the Cook County Board of Commissioners voted to approve a resolution to present a public question via a binding countywide referendum…