For more than a decade, the Civic Federation has strongly supported consolidation of hundreds of police and fire department pension funds across Illinois to improve investment returns and reduce administrative costs. The step is now being considered by the General Assembly following recommendations in October 2019 by Governor J.B. Pritzker’s task force on pension consolidation. Senate Bill 616…
Supporters of a graduated income tax have emphasized its potential to stabilize the State of Illinois’ shaky finances and reduce pressure on local property taxes. However, like the previous income tax increases in January 2011 and July 2017, the new tax structure would continue to short assistance to local governments, many of which also face severe financial pressures. Public Act 101-0008, the…
In the State of Illinois, non-home rule units of government located in counties subject to the Property Tax Extension Limitation Law (PTELL) are limited in the size of their annual property tax extension to 5% or the increase in the Consumer Price Index (CPI), whichever is less. However, the limitation is subject to some exceptions and can be increased by referendum. The Forest Preserve District…
A key Illinois Medicaid panel has recommended that the State move away from costly and often ineffective hospital detoxification services to treat opioid addiction. The Medicaid Advisory Committee on August 2 urged the State’s Medicaid agency to revise its reimbursement practices to discourage traditional hospital detox stays and provide financial incentives for evidence-based care such as…
In an earlier blog post, the Civic Federation analyzed the FY2020 budget enacted by the General Assembly. At the time, the State had not yet released a summary of appropriated amounts for capital, and so the analysis offered was preliminary. When Governor Pritzker signed the capital appropriations and revenue bills, the Governor’s Office released a report allowing for more detailed analysis. The…
A new pension buyout plan designed to save hundreds of millions of dollars for the State of Illinois in the fiscal year that just ended actually generated relatively minor savings in FY2019 and does not appear likely to meet the annual cost-reduction target over the next few years. The shortfall has occurred despite robust participation by members of the State Employees’ Retirement System (SERS…
Amid the frenzied activity at the end of the Illinois General Assembly’s spring session, a little-noticed tax on health insurers is expected to have a major impact on the State’s FY2020 budget. The new tax on managed care organizations (MCOs) is expected to bring in nearly $1.1 billion in additional federal Medicaid revenues, according to estimates by Illinois officials. The extra federal…
Click here to read the full report. Click here to read the press release for this report. AT A GLANCE This report explores the history and repercussions of the significant accumulation of cases at the Illinois Property Tax Appeal Board (PTAB) and offers recommendations for improving operations at the Board. SUMMARY The Property Tax Appeal Board (PTAB) is one of two property tax appeal…
Governor J.B. Pritzker’s FY2020 budget features an array of revenue-raising proposals, such as recreational cannabis and sports betting, that have attracted considerable attention. Another idea is less flashy but just as important to next year’s budget: a tax on health insurance plans. As outlined by the Governor, the tax on managed care organizations (MCOs) would generate $390 million to be…
Click here to read the full report. Click here to read the press release for this analysis. SUMMARY Amid one of the longest economic expansions in U.S. history, the State of Illinois still faces daunting fiscal challenges. The list includes chronic operating deficits, a multi-billion dollar backlog of unpaid bills, crushing public pension costs and five consecutive years of population…
