The Kearney Center was established in 2018 to demonstrate and advance opportunities for public pension reform in Illinois. As a project of the Civic Federation, it seeks independently verifiable and data-driven solutions to effectively address the crippling pension liabilities in the State of Illinois and its local governments.
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The Illinois International Port District was created by the Illinois General Assembly in 1951 to promote commerce at the Port of Chicago. Since the early 1980s, however, the District appears to have functioned primarily as the manager of a recreational facility: Harborside International Golf Center. While Harborside is a productive use of a former landfill site and appears to be a successful operation, the Civic Federation believes that management of a golf course should not be the primary activity of a port authority.
The Civic Federation and Friends of the Forest Preserves support the creation of a separate elected Board of Commissioners to govern the Forest Preserve District of Cook County as detailed in this 2008 report. Due to an organizational structure that creates an inherent conflict of interest and inhibits proper oversight, the District suffers from numerous problems that would be improved by creating a separate governing body to oversee the Forest Preserve system.
On June 30, 2009 the Chicago City Council passed a resolution asking the Civic Federation to conduct a review of the financial projections made by Chicago 2016 for the City’s bid to host the 2016 Summer Olympic Games. Specifically, the resolution asked the Federation to deliver a report and recommendations to the City Council on Chicago’s financing of the 2016 games and any financial impact on taxpayers. Click here to download a copy of the resolution.
The Civic Federation has redesigned its site.
Please click here for the new Civic Federation homepage.
Click here for more information on the site upgrade and an explanation of all the new features.
The Institute for Illinois’ Fiscal Sustainability at the Civic Federation provides timely policy analysis and recommendations to assist Illinois’ decision-makers with regard to the state's operating and capital budgets, public employee pensions, capital investment, debt, Medicaid, and state employee and retiree health care.
Please select one of the following topics to read the latest IIFS research and commentary on that subject.
The Institute for Illinois' Fiscal Sustainability at the Civic Federation (IIFS) is an initiative of the non-partisan Civic Federation. The Institute's mission is to improve the State's decision making process by providing timely fiscal policy analysis and recommendations to State officials, the media, and the public through education and digital outreach.
In 1894 a group led by several of Chicago’s most prominent citizens, including Jane Addams, Bertha Palmer and Lyman J. Gage, coalesced around a serious issue: the need to address deep concerns about the city’s economic, political and moral climate at the end of the 19th century. The resulting organization, called the Civic Federation, evolved during the 20th century to become a leading advocate for governmental fiscal responsibility and an effective champion of rational tax policy.
The Civic Federation researches and provides commentary on a wide range of issues affecting local governments in Northeast Illinois. Click on one of the categories below to read about our latest research, information, and action on topics ranging from pensions to property taxes.
Welcome to the Institute for Illinois’ Fiscal Sustainability at the Civic Federation, made possible by a generous grant from the John D. and Catherine T. MacArthur Foundation.
The Institute for Illinois’ Fiscal Sustainability is an initiative of the non-partisan Civic Federation. The Institute’s mission is to improve the state’s decision making process by providing timely fiscal policy analysis and recommendations to state officials, the media, and the public through education and digital outreach.