This report presents a macro-level overview of expenditure, revenue, debt and personnel trends of 1,043 governments in Cook, Lake, DuPage, Kane, McHenry, and Will Counties. It includes FY1997 and FY2000 comparative information for counties, municipalities, school districts and other special districts.
The Civic Federation was disappointed in the Forest Preserve District’s FY2004 operating budget of $140.8 million for several reasons. There was insufficient time--only 4 working days--permitted this year for public review of the budget. The budget fails to significantly build upon the cost cutting measures enacted last year and implement additional management reforms that will improve the…
The Civic Federation supported the Chicago Park District's $351 million FY2004 budget because of the District's history of implementing management efficiencies and cost cutting measures and the progress it has made in shifting revenues from property tax to fees.
The Civic Federation supported the CTA’s FY2004 operating budget of $936 million. The fare increase in this budget was justified because: the CTA has made some significant efforts over the past five years to control costs; the budget does not make service cuts; and the CTA is a major economic and social asset to the Chicagoland region.
The Civic Federation supported the City Colleges' FY2004 budget of $295 million because growth in appropriations was contained through personnel reductions and management efficiencies. However, The Civic Federation remains concerned about a lack of transparency in the budget document.
This report provides a 6-year trend analysis of indicators that measure the financial health and performance of 9 major local government pension funds from 1996 to 2001.
In a statement before the Forest Preserve Land Mangagement and Maintenance Committee, The Civic Federation reiterated management recommendations it has made over the years: focus on the core mission of acquiring, preserving, and maintaining the County's forest preserves; develop a long-term financial plan with stakeholders; use objective performance measures; and improve budget format.
The Civic Federation's legislative priorities for the 93rd General Assembly include property tax assessment appeals, public employee pensions, Illinois Toll Highway Authority, Cook County Forest Preserve District, State sales and income tax issues, and charter schools.
The Civic Federation supported the Chicago Park District’s $338 million FY2003 budget because the budget was balanced by eliminating over 180 positions and reducing contractual service expenses rather than resorting to broad based tax increases.
The Civic Federation opposed the $7.3 million property tax hike proposed by the Metropolitan Water Reclamation District in its FY2003 $758 million budget.
