On June 29, 2016 the Cook County Board of Commissioners voted to approve a resolution to present a public question via a binding countywide referendum asking if the Office of the Cook County Recorder of Deeds should be eliminated and all duties and responsibilities be transferred to the Office of the Cook County Clerk. Cook County Commissioner John A. Fritchey introduced the resolution to the Board of Commissioners at the October 28, 2015 Board meeting where it was then referred to the…
Despite a stopgap spending measure enacted on June 30, 2016, State of Illinois appropriations for higher education remain below expenditures in fiscal year 2015—the last year the State had a complete annual budget. For FY2016 and FY2017, appropriations from general operating funds and related accounts total $1.6 billion, or 82.4% of the $1.9 billion spent in FY2015. In other words, higher education has been authorized to receive less than a full year’s worth of funding, compared with FY2015…
This article discusses the tough financial decisions Cook County will have to make in order to address its expected budget deficit. Civic Federation President Laurence Msall explains that Cook County has been grappling with financial issues after recent tax increases and suggests the County look for ways to decrease the cost of wages and benefits that account for most of the day-to-day spending.
After a yearlong stalemate, the State of Illinois finally saw a crack in its ongoing budget impasse on the last day of the fiscal year. The General Assembly rushed approval of bills authorizing a full year of preschool through high school education funding, including additional assistance for the Chicago Public Schools, along with a partial spending plan for other government services to cover some FY2016 and FY2017 costs. The stopgap budget bills were passed and signed into law…
This article discusses Chicago Public School’s ongoing financial and pension issues. Laurence Msall, President of the Civic Federation, attributes the school district’s financial difficulties in part to the absence of a balanced State budget and the inequitable funding of Chicago Public School’s pensions.
This article discusses a proposal to change the City of Chicago’s investment restrictions. Civic Federation President Laurence Msall notes that the purpose of the treasurer’s office is to protect the cash reserves of the City, not to speculate or generate high returns.
This article discusses a recent Chicago conference that featured expert panelists who discussed solutions to the City’s biggest challenges. As a panelist, Civic Federation President Laurence Msall gave his insight on the City of Chicago’s fiscal issues, urged Illinois officials to put an end to the States’ budget impasse and discussed the corrosive effects the impasse has had on Chicago.
This article discusses the high interest rate that the City of Chicago recently paid for $220 million in short-term funding. Civic Federation President Laurence Msall calls the interest costs an unfortunate and avoidable expense, noting that the money could have been used for City services or other important investments.
In advance of a $550 million bond sale this week, the State of Illinois announced it had negotiated new terms with the largest holder of Illinois swaps. The new lower level for termination of the swaps based on Illinois’ credit ratings dropped to Ba1 with Moody’s Investors Service and BB+ with Standard and Poor’s. As discussed here previously, under its swap agreements the State is required to maintain a bond rating above a certain level or the deal is terminated. When a swaps contract is…
This article reports on the City of Chicago’s record property tax increase and how it will affect City homeowners this year. Laurence Msall, President of the Civic federation, notes that with Chicago’s historic underfunding of pensions, Cook County taxpayers are likely to face increased property taxes for the indefinite future.
