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November 4, 2009 - 12:53pm
While the Civic Federation traditionally analyzes features common to all local government budgets, our analyses of the Chicago Transit Authority’s (CTA) budgets include additional productivity measurement data. The Civic Federation uses expenditure, personnel and ridership data provided by CTA to gain insight into changes in productivity.
We welcome any questions and feedback about the content of this blog. Please e-mail blog@civicfed.org with your query.
October 29, 2009
Chicago Tribune - Online edition
This explanation of the Cook County 7% Expanded Homeowner Exemption program, which was intended to limit yearly increases to County homeowner property tax assessments, mentions a Civic Federation position statement that calls for changes in how assessments are determined. It also quotes from a Civic Federation blog post about the Cook County property tax system.
October 27, 2009
Daily Herald - Online edition
This article discusses the Civic Federation’s analysis of DuPage County’s proposed FY2010 budget plan. It mentions the Federation’s support for the budget and quotes County Board Chairman Robert Schillerstrom, who says that the County may investigate implementing a capital improvement plan per the Federation’s recommendation.
October 27, 2009
WTTW's "Chicago Tonight" - Online edition
In this interview segment about Cook County property taxes on Chicago Public Television's "Chicago Tonight" news program, Assessor James Houlihan mentions the Civic Federation’s Effective Tax Rates report.
October 23, 2009
Daily Herald - Online edition
This article about Cook County’s FY2010 proposed budget and the efforts to rollback the County’s one cent sales tax increase from 2008 quotes the Civic Federation. The Federation says the high Cook County sales tax rate hinders business development and noted that the budget makes no moves toward reducing the tax, despite opposition to it from State lawmakers and County residents.
November 3, 2009
The Civic Federation supports the Chicago Transit Authority’s (CTA) proposed FY2010 budget of $1.29 billion. Facing significant public funding short falls, CTA plans to close its $300.9 million deficit with fare increases ranging from 25 to 75 cents per ride, the elimination of 1,021 full-time equivalent positions, reductions in bus and rail service and the transfer of capital funds into general operating funds.
November 3, 2009
The Civic Federation supports the Chicago Transit Authority’s proposed $1.29 billion FY2010 budget as an evenhanded response to significant declines in available revenues. The CTA will employ administrative cuts, fare increases, and service reductions to balance its budget and reduce spending by 3.0% or $39.4 million below proposed FY2009 appropriations. While painful to both riders and CTA workers, the budget tackles a revenue crisis directly while avoiding quick fixes that just delay the inevitable another year. The Federation’s full analysis, including recommendations, is available at www.civicfed.org.
October 30, 2009 - 2:33pm
Last week Cook County released its FY2010 budget and will conclude its public hearing schedule nine business days after the budget’s release. At a minimum, the public should be afforded a review period of ten working days before public testimony is heard, not as a conclusion to the hearing schedule.
We welcome any questions and feedback about the content of this blog. Please e-mail blog@civicfed.org with your query.
October 30, 2009
(CHICAGO) The Civic Federation opposes the proposed $3.0 billion FY2010 Cook County operating budget because it relies on an unnecessary one percentage point sales tax increase and makes little attempt to implement cost savings or structural reforms during a time of severe economic uncertainty. The Federation’s full analysis of the budget and recommendations is available on our website, www.civicfed.org.
October 30, 2009
The Civic Federation opposes Cook County’s $3.0 billion FY2010 operating budget because it is predicated on the continuation of an unnecessary one percentage point sales tax increase and provides limited evidence of cost-saving efficiencies or structural reforms. In contrast, the Cook County Health and Hospital System is proposing efficiencies and eliminating vacant and non-front line positions. In the report the Federation calls on the Cook County Board of Commissioners to make the independent Health System Board of Directors permanent.
