In an analysis released today of Chicago Public Schools’ proposed FY2025 budget, the Civic Federation expressed significant concern about the escalating fiscal challenges facing CPS as it votes to approve its budget. civicfed.org/CPS_FY2025
About us
Founded in 1894, the Civic Federation is an independent, non-partisan government research organization that provides analysis and recommendations on government finance issues for the Chicago region and State of Illinois. The mission of the Civic Federation is to provide objective research, analysis and recommendations that: - Champion efficient delivery of high-quality government services - Promote sustainable tax policies and responsible long-term financial planning - Improve government transparency and accountability - Educate and serve as a resource for policymakers, opinion leaders and the broader public Learn more about the Civic Federation: https://www.civicfed.org/about-us Follow the Civic Federation on Twitter: https://twitter.com/CivicFederation
- Website
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http://www.civicfed.org
External link for Civic Federation
- Industry
- Research Services
- Company size
- 11-50 employees
- Headquarters
- Chicago, Illinois
- Type
- Nonprofit
- Founded
- 1894
Locations
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Primary
10 N. Dearborn St., Suite 800,
Chicago, Illinois 60602, US
Employees at Civic Federation
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Dorri McWhorter
Accomplished Optimist | Socially-Conscious Business Leader Dedicated to Improving the World
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Damla Gerhart
Regional Managing Director & Chicago Managing Principal @ Avison Young | Commercial Real Estate Executive | Board Member
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Kent Swanson
Real Estate Executive | Chief Financial Officer | Board Member | Leadership of Capital Markets, HR, IT, Compliance, and Legal
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Lewis Collens
President Emeritus, Illinois Institute of Technology
Updates
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Day Two of the Governmental Research Association conference hosted by EducationNC and Mebane Rash is in the books. Last night the Civic Federation team and other GRA members heard from Western Carolina University Political Science and Public Affairs Professor Chris Cooper on the national electoral landscape, a talk set against the spectacular backdrop of the Governor’s Western Residence on Town Mountain outside of Asheville. (The Governor had other more important things to attend to.) Today it was on to Haywood Community College in Clyde, NC where we heard from local leaders (Shelley White, Stacy Buff, Margarita Ramirez, Kimberly M. Effler, IOM) on the role of community colleges in workforce and place-based economic development with a deeper dive on early child care challenges that raise the barriers to entry to education and employment opportunity. We also made a stop in Canton, NC to hear from Mayor Zeb Smathers who talked about the city's response to the sudden closing of the more-than-a-century-old Pactiv-Evergreen paper mill. Conversation took us to comparisons to the shutdown of major industries in the upper Midwest and Pennsylvania as well as strategies to drive a community to a rapid, sustainable economic and cultural reboot. Bringing the policy themes of Day One and Day Two together was a presentation and conversation with The Pew Charitable Trusts' Josh Goodman, a fiscal management and placed-based economic development policy expert who zeroed in on the failure of economic development funds to reach communities and the portions of communities in greatest need. The Chicago and Illinois distortion of the original purpose of Tax Increment Financing loomed uncomfortably but appropriately large in the diagnosis and recommendations for reform. Key takeaways from all of these discussions were the power of people and community in these North Carolina regions and the need to make objective economic distress criteria the driver of economic development funding decisions by state and local government.
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The Civic Federation team has wrapped up Day One of the Governmental Research Association’s 2024 Annual Conference, packed with thought-provoking presentations on topics ranging from healthcare with Jack Cecil; to housing equity and affordability with Jeff Hornstein, Phyllis Resnick, Shawn Teigen and Paul Matthews; investing in early childhood care and education with Douglas Howgate, Dr. Ereka Williams, Greg Borom and Amieris Lavender, PhD; the data lifecycle and climate assessment with Deke Arndt; and various skill shares by GRA members. Thanks to EducationNC and Mebane Rash for putting on a great conference. We appreciate the ongoing support and opportunity to learn from our peers and fellow GRA members. Eric Lupher, Justine Oliva, PhD, Anna Pogarcic, Kelley O'Brien, Ryan Hankins, Ph.D., Brian Straessle, Tara Kenchen, Stephen Stuart, Joe Ferguson, Sarah Wetmore, Jaye Hobart
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Our July Member of the Month is Alexa James MS, LCSW, chief executive officer of NAMI Chicago! In an interview with us, Alexa discusses NAMI's mission, barriers to mental health care, the growing recognition of mental health's connection to overall well-being and much more. Q&A: civicfed.org/AlexaJames
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July newsletter highlights: 💸 Chicago's revenue options 🧠 Q&A with mental health leader Alexa James MS, LCSW of NAMI Chicago 📝 Commentary from Civic Fed President Joe Ferguson on Chicago Public Schools' FY2025 proposed budget 🚉 Takeaways from our expert panel, hosted with The Chicago Community Trust, on mass transit's future Read it here: conta.cc/3WvuWvH
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Civic Federation President Joe Ferguson spoke with ABC 7 Chicago about Chicago Public Schools' $500 million budget gap and Mayor Johnson's proposal of a long-term, high-interest loan to help address the shortfall. This is "a payday loan without a paycheck," Ferguson says. Look for the Civic Federation's analysis of CPS' FY2025 proposed budget ahead of the hearing next week. 📽: https://lnkd.in/gHpJMJQj
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The Civic Federation was pleased to welcome State Senator Ram Villivalam, State Representative Eva-Dina Delgado, Regional Transportation Authority of Northeastern Illinois (RTA) Chair Kirk Dillard and Chicago Metropolitan Agency for Planning Executive Director Erin Aleman as guest panelists at today’s Board of Directors meeting for a vibrant discussion, moderated by Erik Cempel, PE, PMP, on issues facing the Chicago region’s public transit agencies. By 2026, the end of emergency federal COVID-19 funds will create an estimated $730 million fiscal cliff for the region’s transportation agencies. In response to this crisis, the Chicago Metropolitan Agency for Planning proposed options for funding and governance reform and the Illinois General Assembly introduced legislation to implement transit governance reforms plans. During the discussion, Erin Aleman summed up why a successful transit system is necessary: “We think that transit is a really important tool to improve our economy, to think about how we address our pressing climate needs, and then also how we think about transit as a tool for economic equity and really helping to support our communities and our residents across the region.” Thank you to The Chicago Community Trust and Civic Federation Board Member Kristin Carlson Vogen for hosting the meeting!
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The ongoing structural deficit between revenues and rising expenditures. Spending pressures from pensions and debt payments. Needed healthcare and housing programs for undocumented immigrants. Looming fiscal cliffs facing the Chicago Public Schools and Chicago Transit Authority. The end of federal pandemic funding. How will the City of Chicago solve these funding issues? As the City Council deliberates on potential revenue options to fund the FY2025 budget and address these issues, understanding the implications and realities of each tax source will be critical to ensuring good tax policy to address Chicago’s major fiscal challenges. In the Civic Federation’s latest blog post, we upraise a Civic Federation analysis of potential revenue options previously published in a June 2023 report, “Financial Challenges Facing the Chicago Mayor and City Council: Options and Recommendations.” Learn more: rb.gy/uvtfu9
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Contribute your voice to the Federation's future! The Civic Federation and Crowe are conducting a survey to better understand stakeholders’ engagement with, perception of, benefits from our work. Survey results will influence our priorities, initiatives and Strategic Plan. Take the survey by July 15: rb.gy/hr3huo
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Thanks again to everyone who attended and supported the 2024 Annual Civic Awards, and congrats again to our honorees: Hon. Heather Steans, Jennifer Steans and Robin Steans, and Clayco! Thanks once more to our special guest speakers: emcee Brandis Griffith Friedman, Douglas Boersma, Richard S. Price and, via video, JB Pritzker. Thanks also to our fantastic event co-chairs: Lester Crown, Adam Hoeflich, Dorri McWhorter, Michael J. Sacks and Maurice Smith. Finally, tremendous thanks to all our event sponsors who help make our work possible. Special thanks to: Legacy sponsors: The Crown Family and Crown Family Philanthropies, GCM Grosvenor and The Steans Family Trailblazer sponsor: Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Illinois Leadership sponsors: Ed Bachrach, Elizabeth Q. Betten and Buck Betten, Peter Bowe and Barbara Stewart, Bob Buford, Chesley, Taft & Associates, Gregory O'Leary and Matt Szafranski, CFA, CFP ®, Lewis Collens and Nancy Sindelar, ComEd, ITW, Kirkland & Ellis, Robert R. McCormick Foundation, Mesirow and Jill Wolowitz View our event photos and a full video recording of the event here: t.ly/0NrB3 Be part of our strategic planning—take our engagement survey: rb.gy/hr3huo Donate: rb.gy/hpq2wa
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