The article covers the main points of Governor Rauner’s fiscal year 2016 budget recommendation, which includes significant program cuts and expanded pension reforms. The Civic Federation said the proposed budget is a starting point for discussion on how to tackle Illinois’ $6.2 billion budget gap.
The State of Illinois reduces its operating resources by more than 25% annually to provide individuals and businesses tax benefits through exemptions also known as tax expenditures. In FY2013, the most recent year that data have been reported on tax expenditures, the exemptions in Illinois totaled $8.4 billion, which would have increased State-source General Funds revenues of $31.9 billion by 26…
This article reviews the Institute for Illinois' Fiscal Sustainability at the Civic Federation’s FY2016 State Budget Roadmap, an annual report released prior to the Governor’s budget address. The recommendations in the comprehensive 5-year plan would immediately stabilize the State’s operating budget, establish a sustainable long-term financial plan and pay off the State’s $6.4 billion backlog of…
This article discusses recommendations made in the FY2016 State Budget Roadmap, an annual report released by the Institute for Illinois' Fiscal Sustainability at the Civic Federation prior to the Governor’s budget address. The 5-year plan includes tapping into new revenue sources that will stabilize the State’s budget while protecting essential government services.
In a report released today, the Civic Federation’s Institute for Illinois’ Fiscal Sustainability proposes a comprehensive five-year plan that responds to the dire reality of Illinois’ financial condition with painful, but necessary recommendations. The plan immediately stabilizes the State’s operating budget and establishes a sustainable long-term financial plan that would pay off Illinois’…
Prior to the release of the Governor’s annual budget recommendation, the Institute for Illinois’ Fiscal Sustainability at the Civic Federation releases an analysis of the State of Illinois’ fiscal condition and proposes a comprehensive five-year plan for achieving long-term fiscal sustainability for the State of Illinois. This plan responds to the dire reality of Illinois’ financial condition…
The State of Illinois projected a major loss of income tax revenues in FY2015 due to the reduced rates for individuals and corporations that took effect on January 1, 2015. However, corporate income taxes have taken a steeper decline than originally projected and began to fall even before the rate declined to 5.25% from 7.0% halfway through the fiscal year. The December 2014 monthly revenue…
According to a recent study, the State of Illinois does not set aside enough revenue to account for fluctuations in its volatile tax sources and needs to improve its rules for making rainy day fund deposits in order to prepare for future financial challenges. The extensive report includes an in-depth study of the last 25 years of State revenues, previous legislation intended to establish a rainy…
A drop in Illinois’ income tax rates—and uncertainty about the implementation of pension changes—could cause the State’s backlog of unpaid bills to grow to $9.9 billion by the end of the 2016 budget year, according to a new forecast by Governor Pat Quinn’s office. Along with the decline in income tax revenues, the three-year projection for the State’s general operating budget through FY2018…
This Marketplace Morning Report discusses the expiration of Illinois' temporary income tax increase on January 1, 2015. As discussed here, the reduction will lead to a revenue loss of $1.9 billion in FY2015, net of any underlying economic growth. This report also mentions the Civic Federation's recommendation to expand the income tax base to include retirement income as part of a…
