Taxes and Fees

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Break in Illinois’ Budget Impasse Allows for Partial Spending Plan

After a yearlong stalemate, the State of Illinois finally saw a crack in its ongoing budget impasse on the last day of the fiscal year. The General Assembly rushed approval of bills authorizing a full year of preschool through high school…

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Local Governments Must Repay $168 Million to the State

In April 2016, the Illinois Department of Revenue announced that it discovered a misallocation totaling an estimated $168 million in…

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Average Chicago property tax bill up nearly 13 percent

This article reports on the City of Chicago’s record property tax increase and how it will affect City homeowners this year. Laurence Msall, President of the Civic federation, notes that with Chicago’s historic underfunding of pensions,…

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Emanuel scrambles to craft property tax break before bills hit

This article reports on a City of Chicago plan to create a property tax rebate to lower the tax burden to City homeowners. Laurence Msall, President of the Civic Federation, says it’s difficult to see how Chicago can afford a property tax…

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Mayor Emanuel’s Pension Plan Survives Rauner’s Veto

This segment reports on the Illinois General Assembly overriding Governor Rauner’s veto of pension reforms for the City of Chicago’s police and fire pension funds and on the short and long-term effects of the legislation. Laurence Msall,…

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The Final 2015 Cook County Equalization Factor is 2.6685

The Illinois Department of Revenue announced earlier this spring that the final equalization factor for the Cook County 2015 property…

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Emanuel cuts new deal to save Laborers Pension Fund

This article reports on the City of Chicago’s recent agreement with the Laborers Pension Fund to save the fund from insolvency through a combination of union concessions and revenue from telephone tax increases. Laurence Msall, President…

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Budget Stalemate nearing 1 year in Springfield: How did we get here?

This segment discusses the State of Illinois’ almost year-long budget impasse and how the expiration of the 2011 temporary income tax hike in 2015 has affected the State’s finances. Civic Federation President Laurence Msall remarks that…

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Emanuel keeps Wall Street waiting on pension overhaul

This article explains that the City of Chicago has yet to provide alternative reforms for two of its pension funds after an Illinois Supreme Court ruling overturned the City’s previous reform plan. Civic Federation President Laurence Msall…

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Editorial: Pot, meet kettle

This editorial reports on findings included in the Civic Federation’s recent analysis of Governor Rauner’s FY2017 proposed budget and…