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Our Research

The Civic Federation engages in robust, independent, and objective fiscal analysis, recommendations, and oversight of government at all levels. Our work is driven by the belief that government must operate in ways that are Stable, Sustainable, and Resilient.

Achieving in a way that fosters legitimacy and inspires public confidence requires a foundation built on systems that are Transparent, Accessible, Accountable, and Effective.

Our work focuses on two core areas of expertise, fiscal policy and governance, and we promote policies, practices, processes, and outcomes that not only address today’s challenges but also build long-term trust in government.

May 6, 2026

Standing up a Department of Early Childhood: What Peer States Can Teach Illinois

This report examines how four peer states—Colorado, Massachusetts, New Mexico, and Oregon—structured and implemented similar early childhood departments. These states provide useful points of comparison because each established a standalone agency responsible for key early childhood programs such as child care assistance, licensing and regulation, and early learning or preschool. In each state, the creation of a dedicated department was intended to address fragmentation across agencies, simplify system navigation for families and providers, and strengthen policy coordination across programs serving young children.  

Report Cover "Standing Up A Department Of Early Childhood: What Peer States Can Teach Illinois

Featured Reports & Analysis

Government Efficiency and Transparency
April 7, 2026

Explainer: Local Government Consolidation

With nearly 9,000 units of local government, Illinois is among the most fragmented states in the nation. Government consolidation is frequently proposed as a mechanism to improve efficiency, accountability, and fiscal sustainability in fragmented systems of local governance. In practice, consolidation can take many forms, ranging from full structural mergers and dissolutions of governments to narrower functional consolidation and shared service arrangements. These approaches differ substantially in legal complexity, political feasibility, fiscal impact, and governance implications, underscoring that consolidation is not a single policy choice but a continuum of options that can be applied selectively based on the problem to be solved.
State of Illinois Budget
April 28, 2026

How Illinois' FY2027 Proposed Budget Addresses Long-term Fiscal Sustainability

Governor Pritzker’s FY2027 State of Illinois (Illinois or the ‘State’) budget proposal balances the books amidst a $2.2 billion budget gap, offering a “maintenance” budget that yields a modest general funds surplus of $24 million. This report examines how Governor Pritzker’s FY2027 State of Illinois budget proposal advances the State’s long-term goals for financial stability. This question is particularly important given Illinois’ tepid economic growth and persistent structural challenges, including an underlying mismatch between revenues and expenditures, limited fiscal resiliency, growing pension obligations, and a fiscal framework that does not fully support sustained and inclusive economic growth.
Property Tax
March 25, 2026

Tax Increment Financing: A Primer

This report explains how Tax Increment Financing (TIF) operates in Illinois, including Chicago; assesses its fiscal impacts on taxpayers and overlying taxing bodies; outlines the TIF designation process; summarizes key policy debates over its benefits and drawbacks; and reviews recent empirical research on TIF in Illinois and the United States

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Keep up with the Civic Federation's latest research and recommendations on fiscal policy and other key issues facing our state and local governments.

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