Research Reports
There are currently 70 research reports available, beginning with the most recent.
The Illinois Medicaid Program: An Issue Brief
Abstract: The Civic Federation's Institute for Illinois' Fiscal Sustainability wrote this issue brief about the Illinois Medicaid Program. The report provides an overview of Medicaid in Illinois and highlights areas where the program's cost efficiency might be improved. The report recommends that the General Assembly and Governor form a joint legislative and gubernatorial commission to launch a review of the future financing of the Illinois Medicaid program, especially with regard to the expiration of federal stimulus funds in 2011.
Publication Date: May 22, 2009
Full PDF File:
civicfed_295.pdf (149 KB)
Status of Local Pension Funding Fiscal Year 2007: An Evaluation of Ten Local Government Employee Pension Funds in Cook County
Abstract: This report provides a trend analysis of indicators that measure the financial health and performance of ten major local government pension funds from 1998 to 2007, the most recent year for which audited data are available. It finds that unfunded liabilities for the ten funds climbed even during years of good investment returns, increasing from $4.8 to $17.1 billion in ten years, and makes numerous recommendations on legislative actions that should be taken to slow the downward spiral of pension underfunding.
Publication Date: March 30, 2009
Full PDF File:
civicfed_293.pdf (551 KB)
A Fiscal Roadmap for Creating a Sustainable State Budget: Actionable Recommendations for Governor Pat Quinn and the Illinois General Assembly
Abstract: The Civic Federation's Institute for Illinois' Fiscal Sustainability produced this guide for addressing the state's FY2010 budget. The roadmap provides an in-depth outline of best practices for a budget that would confront the state's growing fiscal crisis, including the areas of state spending, revenue, pensions, employee and retiree health insurance, Medicaid, capital, and asset sales.
Publication Date: March 9, 2009
Full PDF File:
civicfed_292.pdf (300 KB)
The State of Illinois Retirement Systems: Funding History and Reform Proposals -- A Civic Federation Issue Brief
Abstract: This issue brief reviews the five retirement systems of the State of Illinois and discusses their current condition, the history of funding shortfalls and benefit enhancements, various attempts to improve the financial health of the systems, and provides reform recommendations.
Publication Date: September 30, 2008
Full PDF File:
civicfed_279.pdf (130 KB)
Effective Property Tax Rates: Selected Municipalities in Northeastern Illinois, 1999-2006
Abstract: This report compares property tax rates in selected communities around metropolitan Chicago, and finds that effective rates for commercial property in Chicago declined by nearly 60 percent between tax years 1999 and 2006.
Publication Date: September 17, 2008
Full PDF File:
civicfed_277.pdf (157 KB)
Estimated Full Value of Cook County Real Estate: 2006 Property Tax Assessment by Class for Property Taxes Payable in 2007
Abstract: This report provides estimates of the total market value of real property in Cook County from 1997-2006 and shows how property value is spread among the City of Chicago, the northern and the southern suburbs. From 1997-2006, the value of Cook County real estate more than doubled, from $271 billion to $666 billion. The full value of Chicago real estate now represents 49.5% of Cook County's total value.
Publication Date: September 8, 2008
Full PDF File:
civicfed_276.pdf (174 KB)