http://www.civicfed.org News, Position Statements, Budget Analyses, and Research Reports from the Civic Federation
en-us Copyright 2008 The Civic Federation http://www.civicfed.org/rss.html http://www.civicfed.org/images/scretop.gif http://www.civicfed.org http://www.civicfed.org/articles/civicfed_287.pdf The Civic Federation opposes the Cook County FY2009 proposed budget because it is built on an unstable foundation of &#36;364.0 million in borrowed funds to pay for operating expenses less than a year after the County raised its sales tax by one percentage point. The report makes numerous recommendations for cost reductions, management reforms, and pension reforms. civicfed@civicfed.org 1229662800 http://www.civicfed.org/articles/civicfed_286.pdf The Civic Federation supports the MWRD's FY2009 Budget because it minimizes the burden on taxpayers and demonstrates reasonable financial planning. The Civic Federation recommends that the District pursue numerous pension reforms in order to improve the declining fiscal health of the pension fund. civicfed@civicfed.org 1228885200 http://www.civicfed.org/articles/civicfed_285.pdf The Civic Federation supports Illinois Treasurer Alexi Giannoulias' proposal to merge the investment functions of all five state-funded pension systems into a single fund managed by a new Illinois Public Employees' Retirement System (ILPERS). The Federation is pleased that financial training requirements and transparency measures have been included in the Treasurer's proposal. civicfed@civicfed.org 1228280400 http://www.civicfed.org/articles/civicfed_283.pdf The Civic Federation supports the FY2009 City of Chicago budget of &#36;5.97 billion because it does not rely on raising property taxes and begins the painful yet necessary step of reducing payroll by 2,618 full-time equivalent positions to balance the budget. The Federation warns that steps must be taken to reduce the mounting liabilities of the City's pension funds. civicfed@civicfed.org 1225861200 http://www.civicfed.org/articles/civicfed_284.pdf The Civic Federation supports the Chicago Park District’s FY2009 budget because it is a fiscally responsible plan and demonstrates a commendable emphasis on cost containment, avoiding a property tax increase for the fifth consecutive year. This has been accomplished utilizing reasonable increases in user fees and charges, personnel reductions, departmental consolidations and a three day District shutdown. civicfed@civicfed.org 1225861200 http://www.civicfed.org/events.html The John D. and Catherine T. MacArthur Foundation recently awarded the Civic Federation a grant to create the Institute for Illinois’ Fiscal Sustainability. The IIFS will begin operations later this year and will focus on State issues related to healthcare and Medicaid, capital spending and debt, as well as enhancing our capability with regard to digital communications and new media opportunities. Our sincere gratitude goes out to the MacArthur Foundation and its staff for their generosity. Please visit <a href="http://www.civicfed.org/iifs_intro.html">civicfed.org/iifs_intro</a> for more information. civicfed@civicfed.org The IIFS is due to begin operations later this year. http://www.civicfed.org/events.html The Institute for Illinois' Fiscal Sustainability at The Civic Federation is now hiring. Click <a href="http://www.civicfed.org/iifs_intro.html">here</a> to apply. civicfed@civicfed.org The position will remain open until filled. http://www.civicfed.org/news.html This article reviews the Civic Federation's analysis of the FY2009 Cook County budget, including the Federation's position in opposition to a proposed bond issue to fund operating expenses of the county. civicfed@civicfed.org 1230008400 http://www.civicfed.org/news.html This news in brief item features the Civic Federation's position in opposition to Cook County Board President Todd Stroger's FY2009 budget. civicfed@civicfed.org 1229662800 http://www.civicfed.org/news.html The focus of this article is the Civic Federation's analysis of the FY2009 proposed Cook County Budget. The Federation opposes the budget because it relies on hundreds of millions of dollars of borrowed money for operational expenses. civicfed@civicfed.org 1229662800 http://www.civicfed.org/news.html This front-page article discusses the complications the arrest of Illinois Governor Rod Blagojevich will have on the State of Illinois' already precarious finances. Civic Federation President Laurence Msall is quoted saying the state is already facing a fiscal "doomsday" and that if Lieutenant Governor Quinn becomes governor, he will have to make massive cuts to state spending to balance the budget. civicfed@civicfed.org 1229317200 http://www.civicfed.org/news.html This opinion piece by the Rockford Chamber of Commerce cites a Civic Federation study of charter school finances in downstate Illinois that found charter schools do not compromise their host districts' finances. civicfed@civicfed.org 1229144400