Click here to read the full report. The Civic Federation supports the City Colleges of Chicago’s proposed FY2019 operating budget. The $436.1 million budget is a prudent plan to continue to stabilize the District’s finances following the second full year of State funding since fiscal year 2015. As detailed in the report, the District will modestly increase its property tax levy and reinstitute a per-credit hour based tuition structure for part-time students while maintaining a flat-rate…
On April 5, 2018 the City Colleges of Chicago Board of Trustees unanimously approved Board Resolution 33420, which changes the tuition rate from a tier-based rate structure to a hybrid tuition rate structure. Beginning with the summer 2018 semester, part-time students enrolled in fewer than 12 credit hours will be charged on a per-credit hour based rate structure and full-time students enrolled in 12 credit hours or more of coursework will continue to pay a flat rate. The new tuition structure…
Click here to read the full report. The Civic Federation opposes CTA's proposed FY2018 budget because it relies on overly optimistic projections of restored funding from the State of Illinois and embarks on a dangerous path of borrowing for operational expenses to close the prior year shortfall. As an alternative path to generate additional revenue, balance the budget and maintain service levels, the Civic Federation recommends implementing increased fares on el trains and express buses…
Click here to read the full report. The Civic Federation supports the Metropolitan Water Reclamation District’s Tentative FY2018 budget of $1.13 billion because it continues to control operating expenses and maintains financial safeguards, including substantial reserves, to cover shortfalls or financial emergencies. As detailed in the report, the District’s FY2018 budget proposal continues to make increased contributions to the pension fund and to the retiree healthcare trust fund. The…
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…
Click here to read the full report. The Civic Federation supports the Forest Preserve District of Cook County’s proposed FY2018 budget of $198.2 million because it employs reasonable fiscal practices and focuses on the use of innovative measures such as cell tower placements and sponsorships to generate much-needed revenue and stabilize the Forest Preserves' financial position. As detailed in the report, the District's FY2018 budget includes reasonable fee increases necessary for the…
Click here to read the full report. The Civic Federation supports the City Colleges of Chicago’s proposed FY2018 operating budget. The $442.6 million budget is a prudent plan to begin to stabilize the District’s finances following an unprecedented two-year State of Illinois budget impasse that severely impacted institutions of higher learning. As mentioned in the full report, the District is not planning to increase tuition rates or its property tax levy in FY2018 to address the costs of…
As the State of Illinois approaches two full years without enacting a comprehensive state budget, local governments have been forced to make difficult financial decisions to continue operating during these uncertain times. City Colleges of Chicago has received only a quarter of its funding from the Illinois Community College Board during the last two fiscal years, along with reduced MAP Grant funding for low income students. As a result, it has resorted to making cuts and efficiencies as well…
While Illinois lawmakers remain gridlocked over a State budget plan, another area shows promise of compromise in Springfield: government consolidation. With over 6,900 local government units, Illinois has more units of government than any other state. The multiplicity of local units of government, many of which are funded predominantly by property taxes, is often cited as a reason for high property tax rates in Illinois. The issue of government consolidation receives bipartisan support by…
The Civic Federation supports the Chicago Park District’s proposed FY2017 operating budget of $449.4 million because it continues to reduce the District’s reliance on fund balance to close its budget deficits and keeps the property tax levy relatively flat. At a time of increased pressure for local governments across Illinois, the Chicago Park District’s proposed FY2017 budget furthers the District’s long-term goals while showing restraint on the property tax levy. As detailed in the report,…
