A report released by the Cook County Clerk in November 2023 found that revenue from tax increment financing (TIF) districts in Cook County increased for a sixth straight year to a record $1.7 billion, including approximately $1.3 billion from the City of Chicago and $404.3 million from suburban Cook County. The $1.7 billion total accounts for a 7.5% increase from tax year 2021 and represents…
With the upcoming implementation of an elected school board to oversee Chicago Public Schools, the governance of CPS will be separated from the City of Chicago. The 21-member elected school board, set to replace the existing seven-member board appointed by the Chicago mayor, will be phased in beginning in 2025, with the fully elected board in place beginning in 2027. The separation raises…
A report released by the Cook County Clerk last month found that revenue from TIF districts increased to a record $1.6 billion for FY2021, including approximately $1.2 billion from the City of Chicago and approximately $361 million from suburban Cook County. The $1.6 billion total accounts for a 7.4% increase from FY2020 and represents 9.4% of billed property taxes in the County. In total, nine…
The following blog post discusses how the City of Chicago has used surplus revenue in its tax increment financing (TIF) districts since 2013. TIF is a powerful economic development tool for the City of Chicago, particularly at a time when capital and development funding from the State of Illinois and federal government has been scarce. One out of every four properties in the City is in a TIF…
This article examines a new transit tax increment financing (TIF) district that will help fund the Chicago Transit Authority red line modernization. Laurence Msall, President of the Civic Federation, acknowledges that this is a creative way to fund Chicago transit in the absence of a State capital bill, but warns that it could change the policy for how public transit is funded in Illinois.
Budget holds fares flat despite increased expenses and lower revenues (CHICAGO) In an analysis released today, the Civic Federation announced its support for the Chicago Transit Authority’s proposed FY2017 operating budget of $1.52 billion. The budget holds base fares flat and continues to make strategic capital investments despite ongoing state funding uncertainty. The full 55-page analysis is…
Following Mayor Rahm Emanuel’s FY2017 budget address, Civic Federation President Laurence Msall spoke with a pool of reporters about the finances of both the City of Chicago and Chicago Public Schools. He called the Mayor’s proposed budget “good news” for the City but cautioned that Chicago is not out of the woods yet. Msall also called for more details on how the recently signed teachers’…
This article reports on a tentative contract deal reached between the Chicago Public Schools and the Chicago Teachers Union. Civic Federation President Laurence Msall notes that CPS should not rely on TIF surplus funds, because they are not enough to close the deficit that Chicago Public Schools faces, among other reasons.
FY2016 Budget Season Summary December 3, 2015 marked the end of the budget season for the eight local governments monitored by the Civic Federation. These governments include: the City Colleges of Chicago, Chicago Public Schools, City of Chicago, Cook County, Chicago Transit Authority, Forest Preserve District of Cook County, Metropolitan Water Reclamation District of Greater Chicago and Chicago…
This article discusses Mayor Emanuel’s decision to freeze spending in certain downtown TIF districts and shut down the districts over time. The Civic Federation said the move shows the Mayor’s commitment to free up available resources to address the City’s financial crisis, but it should come as part of a comprehensive, long-term financial plan.
