by Grant McClintockChicago is the only major city in the United States that operates without a constitution, which, for cities, is referred to as a charter. This absence is not just an anomaly; it fundamentally impacts every aspect of our…
The Civic Federation’s Local Pension Dashboard is intended for use as a resource and educational tool to increase the accessibility of local pension fund data. The dashboard reports metrics for the ten major local pension funds within the…
By Lily PadulaDownload a PDF of the report here.Equity-based budgeting is a framework for distributing government resources in a way…
The following is testimony delivered by Civic Federation President Joe Ferguson to the Cook County Legislation and Intergovernmental Relations Committee at a September 17, 2025 on the matter of a Resolution Calling for Evaluation and…
Read the Civic Federation's statement on the Budget Working Group's Report here.The City of Chicago faces one of its largest…
By Roland CaliaOn July 15, 2025, the Cook County Office of the Independent Inspector General (OIIG) issued its…
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…
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:…
