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November 24, 2025
Understanding H.R. 1: How New Federal Rules Could Reshape SNAP in Illinois
The recent federal government shutdown caused nationwide disruptions in public services and assistance across many domains, including food and nutrition supports for low-income individuals and households. For the nation’s 41+ million participants in the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), the shutdown was only a preview of what's to come, with substantial revisions over the coming decades due to the enactment of H.R. 1 in July 2025. This report lays out the three major challenges Illinois’ SNAP program faces under H.R. 1:
Featured Reports & Analysis
November 12, 2025
Property Tax Limitations in Practice: What the Data Reveal About Property Tax Caps in Cook County
Illinois’ Property Tax Extension Limitation Law (PTELL) was enacted in the 1990s to slow the rate of growth of local property taxes by capping the annual increases in property tax extensions for non-home rule governments, such as school districts and park districts, to the lesser of 5% or the rate of inflation. In reality, property taxes have grown much faster than inflation, and PTELL has not achieved its intended purpose of limiting property tax growth. This report sheds light on the limitations of the law itself and explores why PTELL has not been working as intended.
October 2, 2025
Divided Waters: Addressing the Fragmentation of Water Governance in Northeastern Illinois
More than 5.5 million residents in northeastern Illinois rely on Lake Michigan for their drinking water needs. Yet, despite its undeniable importance, the system designed to manage this critical resource is a patchwork of competing interests and fragmented governance, resulting in inefficient delivery of this basic resource. This report explores the challenges and opportunities in our current system, arguing that northeastern Illinois’ water governance system should not continue as it is.
September 18, 2025
Chicago Public Schools FY2026 Budget Overview
On August 28th, 2025, Chicago Public Schools (CPS, or the “District”) passed a balanced budget for its 2026 fiscal year, covering the 2025-2026 school year. The budget successfully closed a $734 million deficit. The District’s choice to avoid short-term borrowing as a deficit-closing method likely prevented a credit downgrade. Although the District managed to balance the FY2026 budget, it faces numerous challenges going forward, most notably a continued structural deficit, estimated at $520 million for FY2027 and projected to grow in future years.
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Keep up with the Civic Federation's latest research and recommendations on fiscal policy and other key issues facing our state and local governments.