On Wednesday, March 14, the Civic Federation co-hosted a conference on public-private partnerships (also known as “P3s”) with the Federal Reserve Bank of Chicago. Nearly 150 business, civic and government leaders convened to hear experts discuss their view of the future of government cooperation with the private sector to deliver government services and to develop major infrastructure projects. Such developments are common in other parts of the world, but have only recently become more…
This article revisits the possibility of privatizing Chicago’s Midway Airport, citing remarks made by panelists John Schmidt and Nathan Flynn at the Civic Federation’s March 14th conference on public-private partnerships. The Civic Federation expressed support for the proposal which would direct lease proceeds to funding infrastructure work or reducing pension liabilities.
The Civic Federation supports the Forest Preserve District of Cook County FY2012 Executive Budget Recommendation totaling $195.0 million, which includes both operating and capital expenditures. We commend the District for holding its property tax levy flat during a period of continued financial hardship for many Cook County residents and for taking steps toward more effective personnel management starting with a comprehensive desk audit. The District has also shown prudence by maintaining…
The Civic Federation's legislative priorities for 2012 include public pension reform, requiring the State of Illinois to develop and implement a capital improvement plan, dissolving the Illinois International Port District, creating a new governing board for the Cook County Forest Preserve District, requiring all counties to hold budget hearings and large counties to produce timely annual audits, enacting tax increment financing reporting reform, requiring school financial management…
The June 2011 edition of Government Finance Review features “The Chicago Experience: a P3 Checklist,” co-authored by Civic Federation President Laurence Msall and Program Manager Roland Calia. The article reviews the City of Chicago’s experiences with its three major public-private partnership (P3) asset lease transactions: the Skyway, the downtown parking garages and the parking meters and articulates lessons learned from those transactions for financial managers. Government Finance…
The Civic Federation released today a comprehensive set of forty recommendations to improve the City of Chicago’s long-term fiscal condition. The new Federation report includes reforms that can be implemented now and over the next few fiscal years and cover a wide array of functions, from public works to procurement to pensions. The Civic Federation has in recent years become increasingly troubled by the condition of the City of Chicago’s finances. The Federation’s Chicago Finance initiative…
The purpose of this report is to provide the City of Chicago’s Mayor and City Council with detailed recommendations on ways to address the City’s serious financial challenges and create a government that is more efficient, less costly and more accountable. On February 14, 2011, the Civic Federation released Financial Challenges for the New Mayor which identifies the most significant fiscal issues facing the City of Chicago. Recommendations for a Financially Sustainable City of Chicago expands…
Alternative service delivery refers to any process that shifts some or all of the functions, risks or responsibilities for delivering a service from the primary government to the private sector or another public entity. When the function is transferred to the private sector it is commonly referred to as privatization. Alternative service delivery can take many forms such as an asset sale or lease, contracting out the management of an asset or service, franchising, vouchers and a variety of…
This article profiles incoming City of Chicago Chief Financial Officer Lois Scott, who has a background in privatization issues. The Civic Federation says that the City should consider privatization of certain assets and services, but should not use privatization proceeds to fund daily operations.
Concerns Remain about Independence of the Health System, Future Budgets (CHICAGO) A new Civic Federation report released today finds that Cook County has made considerable progress toward modernizing its operations, but still faces significant challenges over the next few years. The Cook County Modernization 100-Day Accountability Report is in follow up to the Federation’s October 2010 Cook County Modernization Report. The new publication assesses the progress the Preckwinkle administration has…
