How much of the State of Illinois’ transportation funding has been diverted for other uses? The issue has attracted new attention because of a proposed amendment to the Illinois Constitution that would prohibit the State and its local governments from using transportation-related taxes and fees for other purposes. After winning nearly unanimous support from the General Assembly last spring, the proposal will be on the ballot in the November 8 general election. The measure is widely referred…
This article discusses the Civic Federation’s call for a full actuarial analysis of the City of Chicago’s plan to save the City’s Municipal Employees Pension Fund and questions whether it may be enough. Civic Federation President Laurence Msall describes the utility tax plan as a reasonable option to help prop up the fund, but also explains that the Federation will not be convinced until it sees the full analysis.
This article discusses the cost to Cook County taxpayers of separate staffs for each of the 17 Cook County Commissioners. Civic Federation President Laurence Msall remarks that the situation lends itself to further examination and notes that Los Angeles County, similar in geographical size and population to Cook County, has only five elected commissioners.
This article discusses findings included in the Civic Federation’s recent Estimated Full Value of Real Property in Cook County: 2005-2014 report. The report found that the full market value of real estate in Cook County is approximately $499.1 billion for tax assessment year 2014, which represents an increase from the 2013 estimated value.
The City of Evanston recently released a white paper on the initial results following the dissolution of its coterminous township. Based on the results of a fiscal analysis of the dissolution of Evanston Township, taxpayers have saved $779,668 in fiscal year 2015, the first full year following dissolution, far exceeding the initial estimated savings of $500,000.[1] The Civic Federation has long supported sensible legislation aimed at improving the efficiency and effectiveness of government…
This article reports on the amount in tax increases that the City of Chicago will need to stabilize the City’s major government pension plans. Laurence Msall, President of the Civic Federation, says the tax hikes are reasonable and better than no action but also notes that it remains to be seen whether they will be enough.
The full market value of real estate in Cook County was approximately $499.1 billion in tax assessment year 2014 according to an annual estimate released today by the Civic Federation. The 2014 total value estimate represents an increase of $39.3 billion, or 8.5%, from the 2013 estimated full value. Tax year 2014 is the most recent year for which data are available. The 2014 estimates represent the second time since 2006 that real estate values in Cook County increased. The full report…
This report provides estimates of the total market value of real property in Cook County from 2005-2014 and shows how property value is spread among the City of Chicago, the northern and the southern suburbs. The full market value of real estate in Cook County was approximately $499.1 billion in tax assessment year 2014, an increase of $39.3 billion, or 8.5%, from the 2013 estimated full value. The 2014 estimates represent the second time since 2006 that real estate values in Cook County…
This article reports on the City of Chicago’s potential plan to save the Municipal Employees Pension fund through raising utility taxes. Civic Federation President Laurence Msall remarks that there are very few, if any, sources of revenue that could generate the amount of money needed to fund the City’s largest pension fund at an actuarially determined level.
The Civic Federation recently released its analysis of the City Colleges of Chicago FY2017 Tentative Annual Operating Budget. This blog examines City Colleges of Chicago tuition rate changes for in-district, out-of-district and out-of-state tuition rates per semester hour over a ten year period. This blog also compares City Colleges of Chicago in-district tuition rates with the in-district rates of 10 selected regional community colleges in northeastern Illinois. City Colleges Tuition Rates…
