Government Budgets

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Civic Federation Supports City Colleges FY2020 Budget but has Concerns about Long-Term Fiscal Stability

(CHICAGO) In an analysis released today, the Civic Federation announced its support of the City Colleges of Chicago’s proposed FY2020 operating budget as a one-year plan for the District—while expressing concerns about the District’s long-term fiscal stability. The full report is available here. The Civic Federation supports many aspects of the District’s efforts to stabilize its finances for…

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City Colleges of Chicago FY2020 Tentative Budget: Analysis and Recommendations

Click here to read the full report. Click here to read the press release for this analysis. SUMMARY The Civic Federation supports the City Colleges of Chicago FY2020 Tentative Annual Operating Budget totaling $447.5 million, but has concerns about the future fiscal stability of the District. The District is still recovering from the two-year State budget impasse that severely underfunded…

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Illinois’ Pension Buyout Savings Far Less than Expected

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…

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Cook County’s Newly Formed Independent Revenue Forecasting Commission Holds First Meeting

A Commission created to analyze an annual five-year forecast of Cook County revenues held its first meeting in early July. The Cook County Board of Commissioners approved an ordinance establishing an Independent Revenue Forecasting Commission on October 17, 2018. The Commission is intended to help the Board of Commissioners make informed budgetary decisions by evaluating long-term revenue…

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New Illinois Health Insurer Tax to Generate $1.1 Billion in Federal Revenues

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…

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Civic Federation Supports Governor Pritzker's Proposed FY2020 Budget as Workable Short-Term Plan, But Expresses Several Strong Concerns

(CHICAGO) – In a report released today, the Institute for Illinois’ Fiscal Sustainability at the Civic Federation announced its support for Governor Pritzker’s recommended FY2020 budget, because it represents a workable short-term plan to move Illinois forward. The full report is available here. 

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State of Illinois FY2020 Recommended Operating and Capital Budgets: Analysis and Recommendations

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…

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Governor Cancels FY2020 Pension Holiday Plan after April Income Tax Surge

Following an unexpected influx of income tax revenues in April 2019, Illinois Governor J.B. Pritzker has dropped a controversial proposal to delay funding for the State’s financially troubled pension funds. The pension holiday, proposed in the Governor’s budget for the fiscal year that starts on July 1, 2019, was intended to save about $878 million through a seven-year extension of the statutory…

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Financial Challenges for the Next Chicago Mayor and City Council

Click here to read the full report. Click here to read the press release for this report. AT A GLANCE The Civic Federation released this report in advance of the April 2, 2019 Chicago municipal election for consideration by the public and candidates for Mayor, Treasurer, Aldermanic Office and the City Clerk. The report details the City of Chicago’s major financial challenges, as well…

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Governor Proposes Pension Savings, Revenue Increases in FY2020

Governor J.B. Pritzker’s first budget proposal for the State of Illinois faced major challenges, including an operating deficit that the new administration estimated at $3.2 billion.  Closing the gap by implementing a graduated income tax—a centerpiece of the Governor’s election campaign—was off the table in fiscal year 2020 because of the lengthy process required to amend the Illinois…