Issues: Capital

Capital investment in Illinois should be responsibly planned and funded transparently. The IIFS believes the citizens of Illinois deserve a clear understanding of how and where the state plans to spend taxpayer money on capital improvements throughout the state. Read IIFS recommendations about capital investment and funding here.

Recent Research

  • 05.01.12

    State of Illinois FY2013 Recommended Operating and Capital Budgets: Analysis and Recommendations

    The Civic Federation supports Governor Pat Quinn’s $57.4 billion FY2013 recommended operating budget, because it acknowledges the depth of the State’s financial problems and would put Illinois finances on the road to recovery with major structural reforms to the State’s Medicaid program and pension systems.

  • 11.11.11

    Civic Federation 2012 Legislative Priorities

    The Civic Federation's legislative priorities for 2012 include public pension reform, requiring the State of Illinois to develop and implement a capital improvement plan, dissolving the Illinois International Port District, creating a new governing board for the Cook County Forest Preserve District, requiring all counties to hold budget hearings and large counties to produce timely annual audits, enacting tax increment financing reporting reform, requiring school financial management accountability reforms and authorizing state and local government entities to establish trust funds for the advance funding of retiree health care.

  • 11.07.11

    Chicago Transit Authority President’s Proposed FY2012 Operating Budget: Analysis and Recommendations

    The Civic Federation supports the FY2012 proposed Chicago Transit Authority budget of approximately $1.2 billion because it ends the past practice of using capital funds to close operating gaps and maintains current fare and service levels. This budget proposes to substantially curb expenditure growth by addressing expensive labor practices thereby setting a direction for structurally balanced budgets in the future.

    However, the FY2012 budget depends on the cooperation of labor unions and arbitrators to enact work rule changes worth $160 million in annualized savings. If these changes are not implemented in 2012, the CTA will need to significantly cut service or raise revenues to close the budget gap.