This issue brief examines how enterprise zones currently operate in Illinois. Enterprise zones are geographic areas designed by state and/or local governments to stimulate economic growth and create or retain jobs in economically depressed…
In the wake of the U.S. Supreme Court decision on national healthcare reform, Illinois officials plan to seek authorization from the Illinois General Assembly to…
As discussed here previously the Illinois General Assembly recently passed a sweeping overhaul of its Enterprise Zone Act. If signed by the Governor, the…
Total revenues collected by the State of Illinois in FY2012 beat expectations by $576 million, according to an update from the General Assembly’s financial oversight commission. However, the same report suggested that stalled economic…
The State of Illinois budget for fiscal year 2013 underfunds the expected cost of State group health insurance by at least $550 million, paving the way for a significant increase in unpaid bills unless more spending is authorized later…
As public pension liabilities around the nation continue to grow, public officials and pension fund boards are looking into alternatives to traditional defined benefit (DB) pension plans. Two kinds of “hybrid” retirement plans have…
Despite increased revenues from higher income tax rates and a…
In light of the State of Illinois’ pension funding crisis, it has become more widely understood that the annual Cost of Living Adjustment, or COLA, plays a large role…
As part of the spring legislative session, the Illinois General Assembly approved a sweeping reform measure intended to add transparency, accountability and competition to the State’s…
State of Illinois officials expect unpaid Medicaid bills to decline to $600 million by the end of the 2013 budget year, but that prediction depends on…
