Dear Governor Pritzker, President Harmon, Speaker Welch, Leader Curran, and Leader McCombie:As we enter the final days of session, our collection of civic organizations is concerned about a final push for pension legislation that could…
By Lily Padula Illinois has the largest number of local government units of any state in the U.S., at a whopping 8,923 local governments as of 2019, according to a Civic Federation report…
By Daniel Vesecky Please note: This report reflects the most current information available as of May 22, 2025, and will be updated on an ongoing basis as the situation evolves. We welcome suggestions and updates at communications@…
By Roland CaliaIntroductionState debt burden—a state’s total financial liability from various forms of borrowing, including bonds, loans, and related financing instruments—is one of the core indicators of a government’s fiscal health,…
By Lily PadulaThe Civic Federation has long advocated for the abolition of unnecessary, duplicative, and unaccountable units of local government, including townships. These proliferate in greater number in Illinois, which has…
By Lily PadulaA comparative analysis of state expenditures finds that Illinois allocates a larger portion of its operational expenditures to pension obligations than most peer states. Illinois’ annual expenditures on state-level public…
By Daniel Vesecky On February 19, Governor Pritzker released his proposed budget…
A coalition of Illinois policy and civic leaders released Modernizing Illinois' Sales Tax: A Pathway to a Sustainable Future, which outlines the potential impacts of updating the state’s sales tax system. The report — coauthored by…
CHICAGO – Today, the Civic Federation released a comprehensive report calling for Illinois legislators and Governor Pritzker’s administration to begin work on modernizing Illinois’ tax structure and improving its budgeting process. This…
