Only four months into the State of Illinois’ 2014 fiscal year, which began on July 1, 2013, annual revenue projections have increased by more than $300 million from the initial estimates. Positive first quarter results from the State’s sales tax receipts are being added to other one-time revenues already received this year to provide additional resources for the FY2014 operating budget.…
Failure to address pension crisis, plan for upcoming revenue loss threatens to erase progress on State’s backlog of unpaid bills (CHICAGO) – An analysis released today by the Institute for Illinois’ Fiscal Sustainability at the Civic Federation warned that the FY2014 budget may represent a high-water mark with future years bringing sharp reductions in revenues and further consequences of the…
This analysis of the State of Illinois’ Fiscal Year 2014 Enacted Budget finds that the budget may represent a high-water mark, with future years bringing sharp reductions in revenues and further consequences of the unresolved pension crisis. Although the State reduced the backlog of unpaid bills to $5.8 billion, that progress is threatened by legislative failure to prepare for extreme financial…
At the end of the month, the Board of Education for Chicago Public Schools will vote on the District’s $5.6 billion operating budget for FY2014. The total budget of $6.6 billion is supported by local, state and federal revenues and other resources, including $761.6 million of appropriated fund balance. This blog focuses on the State of Illinois’ resources for CPS. The State of Illinois will…
An increase in the cigarette tax increase designed to provide additional funding for the Illinois Medicaid program generated more revenues than expected despite a drop in sales and hoarding of tax stamps prior to the effective date of the tax increase. As discussed here, the $1-per-pack increase was enacted as part of an overhaul of the Medicaid program that sought to eliminate a funding gap of $…
Despite increasing its revenue estimate on the final day of the regular legislative session, the Illinois General Assembly appears to have enacted a spending plan for FY2014 that exceeds the State’s expected resources. On May 31, 2013, the legislature increased its General Funds revenue estimate for FY2014 to $35.4 billion in a resolution passed by the House of Representatives (HR389). That was…
This segment discusses an internet gambling proposal sponsored by Senate President John Cullerton. The Civic Federation maintains its position on gaming expansion from last November and said the modest potential revenue attached to gaming expansion pales in comparison to the State’s $97 billion pension liability and nearly $7 billion backlog of unpaid bills. Chicago News and Weather | FOX 32 News
The Civic Federation supports Governor Pat Quinn’s $62.4 billion FY2014 recommended operating budget for balancing revenues and expenditures without borrowing and making progress toward reducing the State’s backlog of unpaid bills. However, this budget proposal is only a stopgap that further demonstrates the urgent need for comprehensive pension reform. The State’s pension costs, including debt…
State's pension costs to consume nearly 25% of State-source revenues in FY2014 (CHICAGO) – In a new report released today, the Civic Federation’s Institute for Illinois’ Fiscal Sustainability supports Governor Quinn’s proposed budget for FY2014, but warns the proposal is only a stopgap that further demonstrates the urgent need for comprehensive pension reform. The $62.4 billion proposal balances…
An important first step in preparing a government budget is the preparation and publication of revenue estimates for the upcoming fiscal year. The estimates provide the basis for the spending decisions that are subsequently incorporated into the budget. Under Illinois law, the Governor begins the budget process by proposing a budget based on a revenue estimate for the coming fiscal year and the…
