Government Efficiency and Transparency

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Chicago City Council Adopts Ordinance to Create Independent Budget Office

On December 11, 2013, the City Council approved an ordinance to establish the City…

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End double duty for County Board

This editorial calls for the creation of a Forest Preserve Board separate from the Cook County Board, saying the current governing structure has held the Forest Preserves back in recent decades. The Civic Federation has…

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City Colleges of Chicago FY2014 Tentative Budget: Analysis and Recommendations

The Civic Federation supports the City Colleges tentative FY2014 budget totaling $657.0 million for continuing the District’s exemplary work to improve its financial and operational health. The FY2014 proposed budget holds the property tax…

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Civic Federation Supports City Colleges FY2014 Budget

Proposed budget holds property tax levy flat and prepares for State’s uncertain fiscal outlook (CHICAGO) In an analysis released today, the Civic Federation supports the City Colleges of Chicago’s proposed FY2014 budget of $657.0 million…

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Op-ed: Why Chicago needs a budget cop

The following opinion piece by Civic Federation President Laurence Msall was published by Crain's Chicago Business on May 30, 2013. Wrapped around the recent…

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Chicago Schools Closings: How much money will be saved by school closures?

This story discusses the future of buildings that will be left vacant when school closings approved by the Chicago Board of Education on May 22 take effect later this year. The Civic Federation said the District needs to produce a long-…

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An independent set of eyes

This editorial supports a proposal by Alderman Ameya Pawar to create an independent budget office for the…

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Poll: Should Township Government Be Eliminated?

This article examines recent efforts to dissolve township governments in Evanston, Palatine and Wheeling. In its 2013 Legislative Priorities the Civic…

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City Council's Proposed Independent Budget Office, A Civic Federation Recommendation

On December 12, 2012, an ordinance to create an independent budget office was…

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Civic Federation Supports FY2013 Forest Preserve District Budget: Negative Long-term Trends Include Significant Decline in Pension Funding

In a report released today, the Civic Federation supports the $190.3 million proposed FY2013 Forest Preserve District of Cook County budget for its discipline in identifying non-tax revenue sources as an alternative to increasing the…