Several recently enacted laws are designed to increase public access to information about the State of Illinois’ budget and improve other aspects of the State’s budget process. The following table lists budget-related legislation signed by Governor Pat Quinn since the end of the General Assembly’s spring session on May 31, 2013. Public Act 98-0461, signed on August 16, requires the Governor’s…
The blogs for this week and next week will examine the long-term obligations of six selected municipalities in Illinois and their overlapping local governments using per capita indicators based on unfunded pension liabilities and bonded debt. The overlapping pensions per capita and the debt per capita figures are indicators that the Civic Federation has long calculated for Chicago residents.…
In this segment, Civic Federation President Laurence Msall discusses the findings of the Federation’s FY2014 Chicago Public Schools Budget Analysis. The Civic Federation said relying on reserve funds to balance the budget is an unsustainable practice the District won’t be able to repeat next year, when it will face a $1 billion budget deficit absent pension reform.
This editorial discusses the need for pension reform for Chicago Public Schools and District officials’ failure to detail a pension plan. The editorial cites the Civic Federation’s FY2014 Chicago Public Schools Budget Analysis, which found the District will face a deficit of nearly $1 billion in each of the next two years.
This article covers the release of the Civic Federation’s FY2014 Chicago Public Schools Budget Analysis. The Civic Federation did not support the budget, which completely draws down unrestricted reserve funds and uses some restricted reserves to close a $977 million budget deficit. The Federation said the District’s long-term fiscal health remains in jeopardy absent pension reform.
This article discusses key findings from the Civic Federation’s FY2014 Chicago Public Schools Budget Analysis. The District’s financial situation continues to deteriorate while legislators delay action on pension reform, with this year’s budget relying on reserve funding to close a $997 million deficit. The Civic Federation urges the District to develop its own pension reform plan tied to a long-…
UPDATE: On August 23, 2013, the preliminary FY2014 budget of the Cook County Health and Hospitals System was unanimously approved by the Health System's Board of Directors. The Cook County Board is expected to vote on the plan in October. The Health System's preliminary budget will then be included in the County Board President's overall budget proposal for FY2014. Original blog published on…
At the end of the month, the Board of Education for Chicago Public Schools will vote on the District’s $5.6 billion operating budget for FY2014. The total budget of $6.6 billion is supported by local, state and federal revenues and other resources, including $761.6 million of appropriated fund balance. This blog focuses on the State of Illinois’ resources for CPS. The State of Illinois will…
The Civic Federation does not support the Chicago Public Schools (CPS) proposed $6.6 billion operating budget for FY2014, which completely draws down unrestricted reserve funds and uses some restricted reserves to close a $977 million budget deficit. Even after the pain of layoffs and school closings, the District’s long-term fiscal health remains in jeopardy absent pension reform. The…
(CHICAGO) In an analysis released today, the Civic Federation withholds support for the Chicago Public Schools (CPS) proposed $6.6 billion budget for FY2014, which closes a $977 million budget deficit with a complete drawdown of unrestricted reserve funds, as well as use of some restricted reserve funds. Even after the pain of layoffs and school closings, the District’s long-term fiscal health…
