The Civic Federation

Mark your calendars! 🗓️ The Civic Federation’s Annual Civic Awards will take place June 9th at the Radisson Blu. Join us as we celebrate leaders advancing outstanding and exemplary civic leadership in Chicago. Stay tuned for our honoree announcement—and secure your spot today: fundraise.givesmart.com/e/FdYPlg?vid=1…

What does Illinois’ proposed budget say about the state’s fiscal outlook? In the coming weeks, the Civic Federation will examine how the proposal addresses the state’s budget gap, prepares for potential federal funding shocks, and supports Illinois’ long-term economic growth. Stay tuned!

One sector stood out in Illinois job growth last year. Representing 16.4% of all non-farm employment, the Education and Health sector accounted for a significant share of new jobs in 2025. 🏛️🩺 As 2026 data rolls in, policymakers will need to monitor this sector closely as they shape sustainable policy for the years ahead. 📍 Read more in our report: civicfed.org/weakening-labo…

Federal policy changes don’t just stay in Washington — they directly affect Illinois’ budget. Federal H.R. 1 passed by Congress in 2025 would have reduced state revenues by more than $830 million in FY2026 if Illinois had not acted to “decouple” from certain provisions. These shifts matter even more as we face a budget gap in FY2027, at a time when the State may need to spend more to make up for federal funding shifts. As legislators continue their work in Springfield this spring, they will need to consider what policy changes to make in order to maintain fiscal stability. You can read more about this issue in the Civic Federation’s report from last month linked here: civicfed.org/understanding-…

Cook County enters FY2026 with a $10.0B budget, no new taxes or fees, strong reserves, and continued pension progress. But federal Medicaid changes could pose up to a $400M risk in the coming years. Read our analysis: civicfed.org/Cook-County-FY…

FY2025 was a transformative year for the Civic Federation. Guided by the Strategic Plan we initiated at the start of the fiscal year, we've made incredible strides by revamping our board with a stronger governance structure, innovating new fundraising methods to sustain our future, reimagining community engagement, and amplifying our impact. Our voice, a bastion of government transparency, has never been more important than the present. As our work continues to evolve, our audiences grow, and our influence expands, we remain committed to producing only the highest quality, research-based fiscal analysis that keeps governments accountable and drives public discourse around local and regional government issues. This annual report underscores our commitment to promoting government that operates with stability, sustainability, and resilience. Follow the link to explore the progress we made last year. civicfed.org/blogs/fy2025-a…

Half of Cook County’s $10.0B FY2026 budget supports Cook County Health. CountyCare posted a $149.3M loss in FY2025, charity care topped $300M, and deficits could reach $246M by FY2030. With major federal Medicaid changes ahead, the fiscal risks are material: civicfed.org/cook-county-he…

Today, President @JoeFergChicago joined leaders and community members at the Partnership for Safe and Peaceful Communities quarterly funder meeting. In its 10th year, PSPC continues mobilizing philanthropic and community partners to reduce gun violence in Chicago. One key takeaway: public perception doesn’t always match the data. Crime is down — but rebuilding trust in public systems takes time.

The Civic Federation and @JoeFergChicago responded this morning to yesterday's news that rating agencies have downgraded the City's credit rating. A first step to regain public and market confidence would be to immediately begin implementing the governance reforms we recommended in our report last month: civicfed.org/chicagos-budge…

Chicago’s charter schools enroll more than 50,000 students (16.1% of CPS), and will receive nearly $948M in FY2026, almost a tenth of the District’s budget. Our new report examines how the Per Capita Tuition Charge (PCTC) funding formula works and what it means for CPS’ long-term fiscal sustainability. Read more: civicfed.org/how-chicagos-c…

The Mendoza Podcast is back with guest @JoeFergChicago, President of the @CivicFederation. We discuss good government, pensions, the Rainy Day Fund, federal funding, & right on the heels of the Governor's Budget Address, we talk about really taking a look at state finances.

Civic Federation President @JoeFergChicago released the following statement in response to Governor JB Pritzker’s State of the State address and his proposed Fiscal Year 2027 budget.

Very grateful to @fritz4assessor and @AssessorHynes for spending their morning with us, engaging in a thoughtful, substantive conversation about the complexity of Cook County’s property tax system.

Tomorrow, Governor Pritzker will deliver his budget address, and Civic Federation Senior Policy Advisor Paula Worthington will be responding live on @21stShow. Tune in from 11:45 a.m. – 1:30 p.m. on your local @ILPublicMedia station or listen live online: will.illinois.edu/21stshow

Ahead of next week’s State budget address, federal tax policy is a key factor. H.R. 1 initially created an estimated $830M+ FY2026 revenue loss for Illinois due to tax code conformity. Lawmakers enacted targeted changes to protect revenues. Read more: civicfed.org/understanding-…

Illinois’ fiscal outlook is tightening. The State faces a projected $2.2B FY2027 budget gap, slowing revenue growth, and rising fixed costs, alongside growing federal uncertainty. Long-term structural pressures remain. Read more: civicfed.org/setting-stage-…

Why did this year's Chicago budget process break down? Our latest report breaks down what went wrong in FY2026, and the concrete reforms needed to fix a system that undermines transparency and long-term fiscal stability. Read more: civicfed.org/chicagos-budge…

New report: Cook County’s full market value of real property reached $785.1B in 2023, with uneven growth across regions and property types. Read the full report: civicfed.org/estimated-full…