Government Budgets

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City debt payments poised to soar next year, further clouding budget

 The City of Chicago released its Annual Financial Analysis on July 31, showing that debt payments are expected to rise next year by $278 million to a record level of $1.55 billion. The Civic Federation said the level of debt is cause for concern for the rating agencies and could lead to further downgrades in the city’s bond ratings.

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City of Chicago Releases Annual Financial Analysis for 2012

 This week the City of Chicago released its Annual Financial Analysis for 2012. According to an executive order issued by Mayor Emanuel on May 20, 2011, the Office of Budget and Management is mandated to produce a financial analysis of the City budget by July 31st of each year. The analysis includes: • A financial condition analysis that covers the previous ten years including a discussion…

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Enterprise Zones: Illinois and Other States

As discussed here previously the Illinois General Assembly recently passed a sweeping overhaul of its Enterprise Zone Act. If signed by the Governor, the new law will change how the State grants and renews economic development areas and will require additional reporting to help determine the effectiveness of the tax benefits provided under the law. Enterprise zones are areas designated by…

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Civic Federation Urges Sufficient Time for Public Input on Local Government Budgets

In its recent analyses of the $5.7 billion FY2013 budget proposed by Chicago Public Schools and the $659.5 million FY2013 budget proposed by the City Colleges of Chicago, the Civic Federation expressed concern about the limited time allowed for public review. In each case, the Federation found that the time allowed for public input was inadequate for budgets of such magnitude. All governments…

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Chicago Public Schools' Budget Under Fire

Paris Schutz of WTTW interviewed Civic Federation President Laurence Msall about the Civic Federation’s Analysis of Chicago Public Schools (CPS) FY2013 proposed budget. The report opposes the proposed budget because it fails to include a long-term plan to address CPS’ structural deficit. The District’s long-term debt has increased by 28.3% or $1.1 billion in the last five years, and CPS is…

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Civic Federation rips ‘alarmingly short-sighted’ schools budget

This article covers the release of the Civic Federation’s Analysis of Chicago Public Schools (CPS) FY2013 proposed budget. The Civic Federation opposes the CPS budget for the first time since 2007, because it drains General Fund reserves and leaves the District with no identifiable plan for addressing its devastating financial reality, which in FY2014 will include a projected $1.0 billion deficit…

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State Revenues Higher Than Expected In FY2012

Total revenues collected by the State of Illinois in FY2012 beat expectations by $576 million, according to an update from the General Assembly’s financial oversight commission. However, the same report suggested that stalled economic growth may prevent continued gains in the current fiscal year. In its monthly briefing for June 2012, the last month of FY2012, the Commission on Government…

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Civic Federation Opposes Chicago Public Schools FY2013 Proposed Budget

As stated in its analysis released today, the Civic Federation opposes the Chicago Public Schools (CPS) proposed $5.2 billion operating budget for FY2013, which drains all General Fund reserves to help close a $665 million budget deficit and leaves the District with no identifiable plan to address a devastating financial reality. The Federation urges the Chicago Board of Education to reject the…

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Civic Federation Urges Board of Education to Reject "Alarmingly Short-Sighted" FY2013 CPS Budget Proposal

(CHICAGO) In an analysis released today, the Civic Federation opposes the Chicago Public Schools (CPS) proposed $5.2 billion operating budget for FY2013 which drains all General Fund reserves to help close a $665 million budget deficit and leaves the District with no identifiable plan to address a devastating financial reality. The Federation urges the Chicago Board of Education to reject the…

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Chicago Public Schools FY2013 Proposed Budget: Analysis and Recommendations

The Civic Federation opposes the Chicago Public Schools (CPS) proposed $5.2 billion FY2013 operating budget which drains all General Fund reserves to help close a $665 million budget deficit and leaves the District with no identifiable plan to address a devastating financial reality. The Federation urges the Board of Education to reject the proposed budget in favor of a financially responsible…