12.30.14
The following posts were among the most highly read on the Civic Federation blog in 2014 and represent some of the most closely followed local government issues this year:
Illinois...
Library
12.23.14
Cook County’s unincorporated areas account for 125.8 square miles, or 13.1% of the County’s total land area. (Of that land area, 60.26% is located within a forest preserve.) Residents of these areas rely on the County to provide municipal services such as law enforcement, building and zoning,...
12.11.14
The Civic Federation’s recent report profiling unincorporated areas in six townships within Cook County examines issues related to annexing...
12.09.14
To view a mobile friendly version of this report, click here .
This report examines...
11.25.14
Local governments across the country are searching for ways to more humanely and cost-effectively treat individuals with mental illnesses who come into contact with the criminal justice system. According to a report from the Bureau of...
11.13.14
The Civic Federation supports Cook County’s proposed FY2015 operating budget of $3.7 billion for holding the property tax levy relatively flat and not including any new fines or fees....
10.16.14
Since the release of our 2012 Effective Tax Rates report on September 29 th the Civic Federation has fielded many inquiries about how to calculate the rates for municipalities outside the study. In...
10.02.14
Chicago-area public employee pension funding levels continued to decline in FY2012, with total unfunded liabilities for the ten funds analyzed rising to $37.2 billion from $32.0 billion in FY2011...
09.29.14
This annual report compares effective property tax rates in the...
09.26.14
The declining health of public employee pension funds throughout the State of Illinois is primarily due to two causes: inadequate employer contributions over a sustained period and recent investment losses. This blog will discuss the role of investment rate of return in public employee pension...