The Civic Federation opposes the unaffordable program expansions and long-term borrowing proposed in the FY2009 State budget recommendation, but supports the proposed 3% cut from non-priority agencies and other efforts to streamline and modernize state government. The Federation again strongly urges the General Assembly to implement pension benefit reforms.
This joint report by the Civic Federation and Friends of the Forest Preserves calls for the creation of an independent board of commissioners for the Forest Preserve District of Cook County. The report finds that the current arrangement by which the Cook County Board of Commissioners also serves as the governing board for the Forest Preserve District has resulted in conflicts of interest and neglect of the preserves.
Two leading watchdog organizations began a campaign to remove the beleaguered Cook County Forest Preserves from the control of the Cook County Board of Commissioners today. The new report by the Civic Federation and Friends of the Forest Preserves is an indictment of the County’s dual board structure, which creates an inherent conflict of interest and inhibits proper oversight of the Forest Preserves of Cook County. The Federation and Friends of the Forest Preserves are calling for a new,…
The Civic Federation supports the MWRD's FY2008 Budget because it minimizes the burden on taxpayers and demonstrates sound financial planning techniques. The Civic Federation is concerned about the declining funded ratio of the MWRD pension fund and recommends a number of measures to improve the fiscal health of the plan.
The Civic Federation supports the work of the Cook County Bureau of Health Services Review Committee and the Task Force on Independent Governance of the Cook County Bureau of Health on establishing an independent governing board for the Cook County Bureau of Health Services. The Federation offers a number of specific recommendations regarding the role and responsibilities of an independent board.
The Civic Federation supported the Chicago Park District's FY2008 Budget because the District did not raise its property tax levy this year, and has continued to hold down operating costs through a combination of careful management practices, privatization of services, and public-private partnerships. However, the Federation is concerned about the decline in health of the District's pension fund and recommends a variety of pension reforms.
The Civic Federation supports DuPage County's proposed FY2008 $420.4 million budget, which includes a 12.1% or $60.1 million decrease in spending over the previous year and calls for the elimination of 10% of the workforce or 241 full-time positions, including 168 positions in public safety. The Federation's support is due to the County's established record of managing its existing resources and responsibly living within the means its citizens provide. The Federation recommends that DuPage…
The Civic Federation supports the CTA's proposed $1.0 billion FY2008 budget because it makes the necessary fare and service changes to create a blanced budget for the coming fiscal year. The Federation calls on the General Assembly and Governor to pass SB 572 immediately in order to allow the CTA to institute landmark pension and retiree health care reforms and rein in its skyrocketing employee costs.
The Civic Federation opposes the City of Chicago's proposed $5.9 billion budget. The budget proposes an additional $266.6 million in new spending and includes a $108.0 million property tax increase, the largest in recent Chicago history. We believe that the 15.1% property tax increase should be rejected and the city should maintain its self-imposed property tax cap. We believe that the city has not made a compelling case for why libraries--the intended beneficiaries of the property tax increase…
The Civic Federation supports the Forest Preserve District's proposed $175.2 million budget because the District has issued a Capital Improvement Plan for the second consecutive year and made it available on its web site. The Federation makes a number of recommendations on ways to improve the financial management of the District.
