In its recently released analysis of the Forest Preserve District of Cook County’s FY2011 proposed budget, the Civic Federation reiterated its position that the District must create a separate board of commissioners.[1] The District is currently governed by double-duty Commissioners who also govern Cook County. This structure presents an inherent conflict of interest because of the competing…
The Institute for Illinois’ Fiscal Sustainability at the Civic Federation recently described how some State of Illinois pension bond proceeds could be transferred to the State’s General Funds and used for other operating purposes. The final legislation authorizing the state to borrow money in order to make its FY2011 pension contribution may open the door for the state to transfer some of the…
The Civic Federation supports the FY2011 Forest Preserve District of Cook County budget of $198.0 million, which includes both operating and capital expenditures. The proposed FY2011 budget represents a decrease of $236.3 thousand, or 0.1%, from the FY2010 proposed budget. We commend the District for holding its property tax levy flat at a time when Cook County residents are facing serious…
(CHICAGO) Even though the staff of the Forest Preserve District of Cook County completed and filed its budget three months ago and is now over three weeks into the 2011 fiscal year, the dual board of Commissioners that governs both the District and Cook County has taken no action to review or debate the spending plan. Unfortunately, this inattention is only the most recent example of the negative…
In addition to the tax increase and spending limits bill approved in the last hours of the 96th Illinois General Assembly, the legislature authorized a new round of pension borrowing with provisions that could lead to hundreds of millions in bond proceeds being transferred to the State’s General Funds and used for operations. Almost a year after the Governor proposed borrowing to make the State’s…
The Civic Federation often recommends that local governments undertake long-term financial forecasting and planning, which the Federation believes is one of the single most important financial practices for local governments to undertake. Other groups such as the Government Finance Officers Association (GFOA) and the National Association Advisory Council on State and Local Budgeting also consider…
In the last hours of the 96th Illinois General Assembly, on January 11, 2011, the legislature took significant action on the State’s budget by passing a bill to increase personal income tax rates from 3% to 5% and corporate income tax rates from 4.8% to 7%. Governor Quinn signed the measure on January 13. The income tax increases, combined with legislation authorizing borrowing of approximately $…
On January 13, 2011, the Civic Federation sent this letter to Governor Quinn urging him to sign Senate Bill 3778. Click here to read a Civic Federation blog post on the bill. Dear Governor Quinn: The Civic Federation urges you to sign Senate Bill 3778, a bill that will end the Seniors Ride Free program. This program has strained the resources of public transit agencies while allowing…
On February 14 Governor Quinn signed into law Public Act 096-1527 which effectively ended the Seniors Ride Free program instituted by former Governor Rod Blagojevich and restricts free ride eligibility only to low-income seniors. The Civic Federation commends the Governor and General Assembly for taking this action. As detailed in the blog post below, the Seniors Ride Free program has proven to…
As part of the Cook County Modernization Report, the Civic Federation examined the County’s revenue and tax structure. Cook County is the only county in Illinois to have home rule status, which gives it considerable taxing flexibility. One of the report’s key revenue findings is that there has been a significant change in Cook County’s tax revenue structure. Nationwide, property taxes are…
