In this blog post, Greg Hinz examines some of the recommendations in the Civic Federation’s Cook County Modernization Report.
The Civic Federation supports the Chicago Transit Authority’s (CTA) proposed FY2011 budget of $1.3 billion but has significant concerns for the agency in the longer term. The budget is a 5.2% or $66.7 million increase from the adopted FY2010 budget of $1.2 billion. The proposed FY2011 budget maintains the current level of transit service for the Chicagoland area. However, it is…
Group Retains Concerns about Use of Capital Funds to Balance Budget The Civic Federation announced today that it supports the FY2011 Chicago Transit Authority proposed budget of $1.3 billion because it implements efficiencies and cost-cutting measures while maintaining current service levels. However, the Federation retains significant concerns about the System’s future fiscal stability. The full…
Civic Federation Supports FY2011 Budget, Urges More Complete Planning Process Citing DuPage County’s plan to cut expenditures by 3.0% while pledging to maintain core services, the Civic Federation announced today that it supports the $459.4 million proposed FY2011 budget. However, the Federation warned that the County will need to improve its financial planning process to prepare for an…
The Civic Federation supports the DuPage County FY2011 proposed operating budget of $459.4 million. The County is reducing operating expenditures for the second year in a row while pledging to maintain the existing level of service and keep the property tax levy at roughly the same level as last year. Going forward the County needs to plan for a continued decline in economically sensitive…
The purpose of the Cook County Modernization Report is to provide leaders of the County with ideas for reshaping and refining County government that will improve service delivery to residents while reducing wasteful spending and decreasing reliance on taxpayer funds. The Modernization Project provides a roadmap for creating a government that is more efficient, less costly and more accountable.…
This news segment is about how some states are coping with severe budgetary troubles in the current recessed economy. In a discussion of the State of Illinois, Civic Federation President Laurence Msall says Illinois’ fiscal troubles are not just the result of the bad economy, but also the State’s inability to produce a balanced budget and reduce its spending in the face of revenue declines. Mr.…
This opinion piece explores the effect that the State of Illinois’ fiscal crisis is having on the community of Oak Park. The Civic Federation says the State’s problems are likely to become worse and that deeper pension program reforms are needed.
In this editorial about how the State of Illinois should address its pension funding issues, the Civic Federation says that if the State borrows more money, it risks further downgrades to its bond ratings and higher interest rates.
This article explores findings in the Civic Federation’s analysis of Chicago Public Schools’ $6.5 billion FY2011 proposed budget. It notes the Federation’s opposition to the District’s plans to deplete its reserve funds and take a partial pension holiday to close a budget deficit.
