By Daniel Vesecky Please note: This report reflects the most current information available as of May 22, 2025. For updated information on the impact of the bill signed into law on July 4, 2025, please refer to our…
This report is part of a series highlighting the real-world consequences of Illinois’ complex and overlapping government structure. To explore the other reports in this series, please visit:…
By Roland CaliaIntroductionState debt burden—a state’s total financial liability from various forms of borrowing, including bonds, loans, and related financing instruments—is one of the core indicators of a government’s fiscal health,…
By Lily PadulaThe Civic Federation has long advocated for the abolition of unnecessary, duplicative, and unaccountable units of local government, including townships. These proliferate in greater number in Illinois, which has…
By Lily PadulaA comparative analysis of state expenditures finds that Illinois allocates a larger portion of its operational expenditures to pension obligations than most peer states. Illinois’ annual expenditures on state-level public…
By Daniel Vesecky On February 19, Governor Pritzker released his proposed budget…
A coalition of Illinois policy and civic leaders released Modernizing Illinois' Sales Tax: A Pathway to a Sustainable Future, which outlines the potential impacts of updating the state’s sales tax system. The report — coauthored by…
CHICAGO – Today, the Civic Federation released a comprehensive report calling for Illinois legislators and Governor Pritzker’s administration to begin work on modernizing Illinois’ tax structure and improving its budgeting process. This…
