Issues: Other Post-Employment Benefits (OPEB)

Recent Research

  • 12.07.11

    Metropolitan Water Reclamation District FY2012 Tentative Budget: Analysis and Recommendations

    The Civic Federation offers conditional support for the Metropolitan Water Reclamation District’s (MWRD) FY2012 Tentative Budget of $1.0 billion. The Federation is concerned that the budget proposes the maximum increase to the property tax levy and does not comply with the District’s own fund balance policy. The proposed reforms to pension funding that have the support of the Retirement Fund Board and the Board of Commissioners are a strong step toward improving the financial health of the pension fund, which is only 56.5% funded. However, the passage of these reforms in Springfield will require strong advocacy by the Commissioners.

  • 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.

  • 10.21.11

    DuPage County Proposed FY2012 Budget: Analysis and Recommendations

    The Civic Federation supports the DuPage County Proposed FY2012 Financial Plan of $434.7 million. The County is reducing expenditures for the third year in a row while pledging to maintain the existing level of service and keep the property tax levy at the same level as last year.

    In order to properly plan for the most efficient and effective use of taxpayer resources in this uncertain economic climate, the Civic Federation recommends that DuPage County fully adopt the planning policies enumerated in our budget analyses over the past several years.