Government Efficiency and Transparency

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Civic Federation Supports Cook County Budget for Improved Efficiency, Spending Cuts

(CHICAGO) The Civic Federation supports the proposed FY2012 Cook County budget of $3.3 billion because it reduces spending from FY2011, implements efficiencies and avoids raising broad-based taxes. The full 77-page report is available at…

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Cook County FY2012 Executive Budget Recommendation: Analysis and Recommendations

The Civic Federation supports the Cook County FY2012 Executive Budget Recommendation totaling $2.9 billion. Cook County Board President Toni Preckwinkle’s proposed $2.2 billion General Fund budget is a 4.6%, or $107.4 million, decrease…

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Chicago Budget a First Step Toward Improved City Finances

Civic Federation Urges Mayor, City Council to Get Moving on Pension Reform The Civic Federation announced its support for the proposed $6.3 billion FY2012 City of Chicago Budget today. The Federation’s full 106-page report not only reviews…

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City of Chicago FY2012 Proposed Budget: Analysis and Recommendations

The Civic Federation supports the proposed FY2012 City of Chicago budget of nearly $6.3 billion because it takes effective action to reduce the City’s structural deficit through significant expenditure reductions and targeted revenue…

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DuPage County Budget Cuts Spending, Freezes Property Tax

Civic Federation Encourages County to Fully Implement Planning Policies (CHICAGO) The Civic Federation supports the proposed $434.7 million DuPage County budget for FY2012 because it cuts spending for the third year in a row while holding…

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DuPage County Proposed FY2012 Budget: Analysis and Recommendations

The Civic Federation supports the DuPage County Proposed FY2012 Financial Plan of $434.7 million. The County is reducing expenditures for the third year in a row while pledging to maintain the existing level of service and keep the…

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Chicago Mayor Trashes Politics of Waste Removal

This article discusses City of Chicago Mayor Rahm Emanuel’s plans to overhaul the City’s trash collection system to reduce costs to taxpayers. The Civic Federation says that the City needs to cut costs because it has had a recent history…

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Grid vs. ward: Why are we still debating?

This editorial discusses the proposed conversion of some ward-based services in the City of Chicago to grid-based. It mentions the Civic Federation’s support for such a change, as detailed in the Federation’s “Recommendations for a…

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Cops and Firefighters: The Public Sector’s New Untouchable Upper Class?

This article discusses the issues surrounding efforts to reduce public workforces, especially with regard to public safety employees, in order to fill budget gaps. The article cites the Civic Federation’s “…

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Update: Plan to Close Oak Forest Hospital Approved

After twice rejecting the plan, a State of Illinois board voted on August 16, 2011 to allow Cook County to close Oak Forest Hospital. The Illinois Health Facilities and Services Review Board approved the proposal by a vote of 7 to 1, with…