The Civic Federation supported the Chicago Park District's FY2007 Budget because the District did not raise its property tax levy this year, and has held down operating costs through a combination of careful management practices, privatization of services, and public-private partnerships. However, the Federation was concerned by a decline in health of the District's pension fund, exacerbated by a recent reduction in District pension contributions. The Federation also cautioned that the…
This issue brief describes various forms of privatization available to the public sector, including asset sales, contracting out of management, corporatization, internal markets, intergovernmental contracts, managed competition, and vouchers. It discusses the pros and cons of these alternative service delivery options with examples of privatization efforts in Chicago-area governments. It also includes the Civic Federation's position on alternative service delivery and recommendations…
The Civic Federation supports DuPage County's FY2007 budget because the County has reduced spending by over twenty-five percent since 2003, and has focused on cost reduction before seeking revenue increases. The Civic Federation cautions against any future policy of relying on property tax increases as the first line of attack for balancing the budget, and urges the County to explore consolidation and privatization, and to improve its budget transparency.
The Civic Federation supports the Forest Preserve District's proposed 164.5 million budget because the District has made important steps toward professionalization of its operations, including the issuance of a Capital Improvement Plan. The Federation makes a number of recommendations on ways to improve the financial management of the District.
The Civic Federation supports the City of Chicago's proposed $5.7 billion budget but has serious concerns about the poor health of the City's pension funds and the low level of reserve funds for contingencies.
The Civic Federation opposes the State of Illinois Recommended FY2007 operating budget because it takes a partial pension holiday of $1.1 billion at the same time as it increases spending for recurring programs by $1 billion.
The Civic Federation opposes the State of Illinois Recommended FY2007 operating budget because it takes a partial pension holiday of $1.1 billion at the same time as it increases spending for recurring programs by $1 billion.
The Civic Federation opposed Cook County's $3.076 billion budget because it failed to include long term management efficiencies and cost reduction measures.
The Civic Federation supported the City's holding the property tax levy constant for the third year in a row and eliminating vacancies, but was concerned by the lack of transparency regarding the funding for operations at Millennium Park, and by the use of borrowing to finance those operations.
The Civic Federation supported the Chicago Park District's FY2006 Budget because the District did not raise its property tax levy this year, and continues to control personnel costs by cutting positions and restructuring its healthcare program. However, the Federation was concerned by the District's 2004 and 2005 reductions in its pension contribution and the transfer of pension property tax levy receipts to the Corporate Fund.
