Taxes and Fees

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Estimated Full Value of Real Estate in Cook County Increases for Second Year in a Row

The full market value of real estate in Cook County was approximately $499.1 billion in tax assessment year 2014 according to an annual estimate released today by the Civic Federation. The 2014 total value estimate represents an increase…

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Estimated Full Value of Real Property in Cook County: 2005-2014

This report provides estimates of the total market value of real property in Cook County from 2005-2014 and shows how property value is spread among the City of Chicago, the northern and the southern suburbs. The full market value of…

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Emanuel eyes utility tax increase to save largest pension fund

This article reports on the City of Chicago’s potential plan to save the Municipal Employees Pension fund through raising utility taxes. Civic Federation President Laurence Msall remarks that there are very few, if any, sources of revenue…

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A Comparison of Community College Tuition Rates in Northeastern Illinois

The Civic Federation recently released its analysis of the City Colleges of Chicago FY2017 Tentative Annual Operating Budget. This blog…

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Emanuel to use Skyway windfall to bankroll property tax rebate

This article discusses a plan to provide $20 million in property tax rebates to City of Chicago homeowners. Laurence Msall, President of the Civic Federation, notes that the program is likely to have a very modest impact to Chicago…

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Civic Federation Supports City Colleges' FY2017 Budget

Proposal keeps property tax levy, tuition rates relatively flat despite inadequate funding from State of Illinois In an analysis released today, the Civic Federation announced its support of the City Colleges of Chicago’s proposed FY2017…

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Preckwinkle: Tax hike, budget cuts on table as county faces $174M shortfall

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…

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Break in Illinois’ Budget Impasse Allows for Partial Spending Plan

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…

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Local Governments Must Repay $168 Million to the State

In April 2016, the Illinois Department of Revenue announced that it discovered a misallocation totaling an estimated $168 million in…

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Average Chicago property tax bill up nearly 13 percent

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,…