by Daniel VeseckyNote: This summary was prepared in advance of the November 10, 2025, hearing to serve as an easy reference for City Council members, media, advocates, and Chicago residents.With the City of Chicago (Chicago or the ‘City’)…
by Grant McClintock Most of the Chicago Police Department’s (CPD, or the ‘Department’) spending (96.5%) is budgeted through the City’s Corporate Fund, or general operating fund. This analysis provides a snapshot of CPD spending within…
by Daniel VeseckyIn 2019, the City of Chicago (Chicago or the ‘City’) had a budget of $8.9 billion, excluding grants from the State of Illinois (Illinois or the ‘State’) and the Federal government. By 2025, expenditures had grown to $12.4…
By Grant McClintock and Daniel VeseckyUpdate 11/6/2025: On November 5, S&P Global Ratings adjusted its outlook on Chicago’s credit rating from stable to negative. Read the Civic Federation's…
by Grant McClintock Download the report summarySee the Civic Federation's…
by Grant McClintockChicago is the only major city in the United States that operates without a constitution, which, for cities, is referred to as a charter. This absence is not just an anomaly; it fundamentally impacts every aspect of our…
The Civic Federation’s Local Pension Dashboard is intended for use as a resource and educational tool to increase the accessibility of local pension fund data. The dashboard reports metrics for the ten major local pension funds within the…
Read the Civic Federation's statement on the Budget Working Group's Report here.The City of Chicago faces one of its largest…
by Daniel VeseckyTax Increment Financing (TIF) Districts are a complex, often misunderstood part of Chicago’s tax structure. TIF Districts segment and dedicate a portion of property tax collections within a designated geographic area to…
