The Civic Federation criticized the City of Chicago's FY2000 budget for proposing a 4.2% increase in the property tax levy, as well as a number of fee increases, without adequately attempting to decrease spending through expenditure reductions.
For the second year in a row, The Civic Federation supported the Chicago Transit Authority's budget based upon the CTA's focused, strategic efforts to attract new riders after years of declining ridership, while expressing a concern over rising costs.
The Civic Federation's initial analysis of the City Colleges of Chicago FY2000 budget expressed a broad concern that over the past 5 years, expenditures have out-paced revenues, leading to a decrease in the CCC's fund balance.
This report describes the complex operation of the Cook County classification system and quantifies the impact of various proposals to change that system.
This report compares the unfunded liabilities and funded ratios of the nine local pension funds: the Fire, Police, Municipal, Teacher, Park, MWRD, County, Forest and Laborer Funds. In addition, it analyzes the health of the five collar county funds in the IMRF: DuPage, Kane, Lake, McHenry, and Will Counties.
The Civic Federation generally supported the Chicago Park District's FY1999 budget for avoiding a property tax increase and continuing to shift resources from administration to recreation. However, the analysis also warns the District to avoid relying too heavily on fees and criticizes the District for the late release of its budget.
The Civic Federation's analysis of the City of Chicago's FY1999, $4.5 billion budget, supports the proposed decrease in the property tax levy while warning that the City must also prepare for an inevitable economic downturn.
The Civic Federation supported the Chicago Transit Authority's FY1999 budget and its plans to attract new riders. The Federation also applauded the CTA for addressing critical capital needs that would allow the CTA to provide better and more cost-effective services.
This report is a summary of the Report of the Civic Federation Task Force on Cook County Classification and Equalization. It briefly describes how the Cook County property tax system works, and summarizes possible outcomes of changes to the classification system or elimination of equalization.
A 10-year overview (1985-1995) of Cook County property tax, assessment and appeal trends as well as descriptions of those systems.
