The Civic Federation today released a position paper calling on the Illinois General Assembly to pursue foundational structural reform of Northeastern Illinois’ mass transit systems—the Chicago Transit Authority (CTA), Metra, Pace and the Regional Transit Authority (RTA)—by centralizing the service boards and operations under a single, duly empowered and resourced regional transit agency. Doing…
CHICAGO — The Civic Federation today released a position paper calling on the Illinois General Assembly to pursue foundational structural reform of Northeastern Illinois’ mass transit systems—the Chicago Transit Authority (CTA), Metra, Pace and the Regional Transit Authority (RTA)—by centralizing the service boards and operations under a single, duly empowered and resourced regional transit…
The Civic Federation today releases a report calling for the consolidation of the Chicago Transit Authority, Metra, Pace and the Regional Transit Authority into a single regional transit agency. The Federation urges linking transit governance reform with funding.
Implementing a graduated real estate transfer tax as a source of new revenue has some advantages, but it is also extremely volatile. There has not been sufficient evaluation of the proposed graduated tax’s potential impact on the City’s real estate market and economy or a public explanation as to how the changes to the tax would impact tax burden by location and property use type. Through an…
CHICAGO — The Civic Federation today released a data and policy analysis and position statement on the Bring Chicago Home referendum appearing on Chicago’s March 19 primary election ballot. The referendum, if passed, would change the City of Chicago’s real estate transfer tax upon buyers of properties to a graduated rate from the current flat rate in order to generate an estimated $100 million…
Homelessness and a lack of housing affordability pose critical challenges for a growing number of people living in Chicago and at the same time contribute to a larger destabilization of the City’s ability to attract residents and businesses. These issues combined constitute the local dimensions of a national social and policy crisis that the City of Chicago and other governments must address with…
The following are summaries of the five most-read posts presented on the Civic Federation’s blog in 2023, listed here in chronological order. The posts examine issues related to Illinois taxes and debt, Tier 2 Benefits, the SAFE-T Act, and the tragic passing of Civic Federation President Laurence Msall.
The Governmental Research Association (GRA), a national group of organizations and individuals engaged in government research and public policy, convened in Worcester, Mass., in late July for its 2023 annual conference. The conference provides GRA members with an opportunity to network, share research, hear from expert panels and receive recognition for their work through a peer-reviewed awards…
Following Cook County voters’ approval of a higher property tax levy for the Forest Preserve District of Cook County (FPDCC) via a referendum question on the November 2022 ballot, the Illinois General Assembly last week passed a law that will change the District’s funding schedule for its pension plan to an actuarially-sound 30-year plan with a 100% funding goal. It now awaits the Governor’s…
The Illinois General Assembly passed a series of amendments during veto session in early December to the SAFE-T (Safety, Accountability, Fairness and Equity – Today) Act, the criminal justice omnibus law enacted in early 2021. The SAFE-T Act (Public Act 101-0652) was originally passed by the Illinois General Assembly in January 2021 and signed by Governor Pritzker in February 2021. For details of…
