December 05, 2017
Click here to read the full report.
The Civic Federation supports the Park District's FY2018 proposed budget because it reduces the District’s reliance on prior year fund balance, implements savings and efficiencies and reduces the size of the District’s workforce. At the same time, the District plans to increase the level of funding to its pension plan.
As detailed in the report, the Federation supports the District’s efforts to maintain a high level of budgetary reserves and a reasonable increase in the property tax levy given the District’s prior taxing restraint and prudent debt management. Additionally, the Federation supports the District’s efforts to increase the level of detail provided in its budget book and calls on the District to transparently—and in one place within the budget—show how its special recreation levy, which is not subject to property tax caps, is spent on special recreation services and infrastructure alongside other funds from the Corporate Fund.