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Newsletter
Beyond parking meters: the future of public–private partnerships
On March 14, 2012, the Federal Reserve Bank of Chicago and the Civic Federation co-sponsored a conference examining the benefits and pitfalls of various types of public?private partnerships (P3s), including infrastructure sales or leases and ?managed competition,? where public and private entities compete for contracts to deliver services traditionally delivered by government.
Newsletter
Medicaid Expansion and the Affordable Care Act: A Fiscal Checkup
On April 4, 2016, the Federal Reserve Bank of Chicago and the Civic Federation held a conference to examine how states are lowering the ranks of the uninsured under the Affordable Care Act (ACA)?by expanding Medicaid and through other strategies. The conference also looked at the ACA?s impact on delivering health care to traditionally underserved populations.
Newsletter
Navigating Pension Reform in Illinois
Illinois is one of several states facing severe state and local public pension crises, but it is uniquely constrained in its ability to address the problem due to recent judicial rulings that all but prohibit pension benefit changes for current and retired public employees. A conference cosponsored by the Federal Reserve Bank of Chicago and the Civic Federation on April 17, 2018, examined the state?s options.
Newsletter
Managing economic development in times of fiscal uncertainty
On April 4, 2013, the Federal Reserve Bank of Chicago and the Civic Federation held a conference to examine the impact of state and local tax adjustments, as well as fiscal policy uncertainties, on economic development. Also, conference participants explored state and local governments? recent experiences in dealing with fiscal difficulties, as well as their strategies to attract businesses to stimulate economic growth while still balancing their budgets.
Newsletter
Sin Taxes: The Sobering Fiscal Reality
On April 2, 2015, the Federal Reserve Bank of Chicago and the Civic Federation held a forum to examine the use and efficacy of so-called sin taxes (e.g., taxes on alcohol, tobacco and gambling) levied by state and local governments.
Newsletter
Chicago’s Fiscal Future: Growth or Insolvency? A Conference Summary
The intersection between poor fiscal conditions facing Chicago and the prospects for business development was the subject of a conference cosponsored by the Federal Reserve Bank of Chicago and the Civic Federation on April 19, 2017. Specifically, the program focused on whether municipal bankruptcy is an appropriate mechanism for addressing extreme fiscal stress and the impact such an action might have on key Chicago industries, particularly those characterized by rapid recent growth.
Newsletter
Best Practices for Financing Illinois Infrastructure: A Conference Summary
On April 5, 2019, more than 140 academics, business leaders, government officials, and policy researchers came to the Federal Reserve Bank of Chicago to explore how best to design and finance an infrastructure program for Illinois. The program, presented by the Civic Federation and the Chicago Fed, focused on how to improve the transparency of infrastructure project selection and to ensure that sustainable funding is identified to support efficient infrastructure operation.
Newsletter
After Detroit: How Will Illinois and Its Communities Respond?
Detroit?s bankruptcy filing has highlighted fiscal pressures being experienced by communities across the nation, including Chicago. Problems such as flat or declining property tax revenues, underfunded public pensions, and reduced state support are straining local government operations. To investigate how municipalities are adjusting to fiscal stress, the Civic Federation and the Federal Reserve Bank of Chicago held a forum on April 23, 2014, that brought together over 140 participants.