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March 2, 2026

Cook County Health: FY2026 Budget and Long-Term Risks

Cook County’s enacted budget for FY2026 totals $10.0 billion, half of which pertains to Cook County Health (CCH), which provides mandatory health services to County residents and others, including those who cannot afford care elsewhere. This report provides more detail and context on Cook County Health’s fiscal impacts on the County as a whole. With preliminary FY2025 financial results now available, state budget deliberations underway, and continued federal policy shocks, the time is right to review Cook County Health’s FY2026 budget and FY2027-FY2030 long-term forecast and assess risks going forward.

Cook County Health FY26 Budget Cover

Featured Reports & Analysis

Cook County
February 26, 2026

Cook County FY2026 Budget Overview: Key Takeaways in a Period of Fiscal Uncertainty

Cook County started the 2026 fiscal year in a stable financial position due to the continued use of prudent budget policies. However, the County enters a period of fiscal uncertainty—it will face serious challenges in the coming year due to cuts in federal funding for social service and health programs, economic uncertainty, and the end of COVID-19 stimulus funding. The County’s strong operating reserves, low bonded debt burden, and improving pension funded ratio provide a significant financial cushion as it navigates this uncertainty.
Illinois Department of Early Childhood
January 20, 2026

Illinois Early Childhood Landscape

This report provides a data-driven overview of the early childhood landscape in Illinois. It examines demographic and socioeconomic conditions, governance and organizational structures, funding trends, program access, workforce capacity, quality indicators, family experiences, and outcomes. The goal is not to make policy recommendations, but rather to provide a comprehensive baseline of information to inform future discussions about Illinois’ early childhood system.
Transit
December 11, 2025

On the Right Track: Illinois' New Transit Agency and Path to Sustainability

Illinois Senate Bill 2111 makes major changes to the way transit service is governed and funded in Illinois. While the legislation specifies substantial governance reforms for the northern Illinois transit system and further provides new public funding for transit state-wide, many questions about oversight and accountability remain as the region enters crucial transition and implementation phases. In this report, we consider these challenges in light of four broad issues: governance; public funding; passenger fares; and system ridership.

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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.

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