by Daniel VeseckyTax Increment Financing (TIF) Districts are a complex, often misunderstood part of Chicago’s tax structure. TIF Districts segment and dedicate a portion of property tax collections within a designated geographic area to…
by Lily PadulaOn May 31, the Illinois General Assembly passed three budget bills for the 2026 fiscal year: the appropriations bill, which authorizes how state funds will be spent; the budget implementation bill, which makes necessary legal…
The following is testimony delivered by Civic Federation President Joe Ferguson to the Illinois House Executive Committee at a July 31, 2025 hearing on Chicago Public Schools' finances. The original testimony has been edited slightly for…
By Lily Padula Over the past three decades, the Illinois state government's personnel levels have undergone notable shifts, shaped by economic cycles, policy changes, and evolving administrative practices. The number of full-time…
CHICAGO — As Chicago Public Schools (CPS or the ‘District’) heads into a pivotal budget season under new leadership — and with a newly finalized, cost-increasing contract with the Chicago Teachers Union — the Civic Federation is…
This report is part of a three-part educational series on what's at stake for CPS in FY2026 and beyond. Click here to view the one-page summary…
By Daniel Vesecky On February 19, Governor Pritzker released his proposed budget…
By Sarah Wetmore The Forest Preserve District of Cook County (FPDCC, or “the District”) adopted its FY2025 budget on November 19, 2024,…
By Grant McClintockFollowing a lengthy political debate, Chicago’s FY2025 enacted budget managed to technically fill a nearly $1 billion projected budget gap. However, as the Civic Federation noted in its…
