State of Illinois

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How Many Governments Maintain Green Bay Road?

By Lily Padula Illinois has the largest number of local government units of any state in the U.S., at a whopping 8,923 local governments as of 2019, according to a Civic Federation report…

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Medicaid in Illinois: What Federal Cuts to Medicaid Funding Could Mean for Illinoisans

By Daniel Vesecky Please note: This report reflects the most current information available as of May 19, 2025, and will be updated on an ongoing basis as the situation evolves. We welcome suggestions and updates at communications@…

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Illinois Sees Sustained Progress on Long-Term Debt Reduction in FY2026

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,…

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The Civic Federation Supports Efforts to Lower Barriers to Township Consolidation

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…

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How Illinois' Spending Compares to Other States: The Tension Between Pensions vs. Public Services

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…

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Illinois Proposed FY2026 Budget Overview

By Daniel Vesecky On February 19, Governor Pritzker released his proposed budget

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Diverse Coalition Encourages Action on Sales Tax Modernization to Strengthen Illinois' Fiscal Future

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…

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Civic Federation Urges Illinois Lawmakers to Begin Modernizing Illinois' Tax Structure and Budgeting Process to Solve the State's Significant Financial Challenges

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…

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State of Illinois FY2026 Budget Roadmap: Landscape, Issues, and Recommendations

Click here to read the full report.

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Civic Federation Urges Illinois Lawmakers to Begin Modernizing Illinois' Tax Structure and Budgeting Process to Solve the State's Significant Financial Challenges

The Civic Federation shares a comprehensive report to spur and guide the Governor and Illinois General Assembly in conducting a holistic re-set of the State’s fiscal structure and adopting a more strategic approach to budgeting that…