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Who We Are

The Center for Tax and Budget Accountability is a bi-partisan 501(c)3 research and advocacy think tank that promotes fair, efficient and progressive tax, spending and economic policies.

 

 

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 CTBA's 2013 Annual Fiscal Symposium
Tuesday, June 4, 2013

"Tough Choices for Tough Times:
 Solutions for Illinois' Well Being
"

Keynote Speakers
Senate President John J. Cullerton

Comptroller Judy Baar Topinka

 WHEN:  Tuesday, June 4, 2013
              1:15 pm  Registration/Networking
              2:00 pm-4:30 pm  Program

 WHERE:  Grand Ballroom — The Standard Club
                322 S. Plymouth Court, Chicago, Illinois 60604

 "Tough Choices for Tough Times: Solutions for Illinois' Well Being" will cover major issues confronting Illinois today, with an emphasis on concrete solutions for change.  More specifically, the Symposium will focus on tax policy and the pension system, and ways to create a sustainable economic future for the state.

Moderator:  Craig Dellimore, Political Editor, WBBM Newsradio 780 and 105.9 FM

Confirmed Panelists:   

     Senator Pamela J. Althoff, Illinois State Senator 32nd District

     — Senator Toi W. Hutchinson, Illinois State Senator 40th District

     — Ralph M. Martire,  Executive Director, Center for Tax and Budget Accountability

     — Phillip Nelson, President, Illinois Farm Bureau

 

REGISTER ONLINE

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to register by mail, download a copy of CTBA's REGISTRATION FORM

 

 

  

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CTBA NEW RELEASE


 

 ILLINOIS BUDGET CALCULATOR:  The  Illinois Budget Calculator is an interactive online tool developed in partnership with the Center for Tax and Budget Accountability (CTBA), a bi-partisan 501(c)(3) research and advocacy think tank; Institute for Work and the Economy (IWE), an independent, not-for-profit think tank; Crain's Chicago Business, and The Kineo Group. The project was funded by a grant from the MacArthur Foundation.  April 22, 2013

 

The Illinois State Budget and Tax Primer reviews the technical elements of the Illinois budget and tax system.   It provides in-depth analysis of historical spending and revenue trends, major budget pressures, deficit spending, bonds and debt, pensions and how the state shares revenue with local governments. 

 

With over 70 tables and charts, the Illinois State Budget and Tax Primer details the technical elements of the budget process, revenue system and challenges the state faces in clear terms. March, 2013

 

CTBA Analysis of the Illinois FY2013 General Fund ENACTED Budget, August 2, 2012

 

CTBA Reports

 

 

CTBA Analysis of Proposed Illinois FY2013 General Fund Budgets, April 27, 2012

 

Ramifications of State Budget Cuts to Human Services, March 22, 2012.

 Increases Job Loss
 Decreases Economic Activity
 Harms Vulnerable Populations

Click HERE for a PDF, printer-friendly version of the full report.

 

The Case for Creating a Graduated Income Tax in Illinois, a formula to eliminate state budget deficits, February 28, 2012.     Click HERE for a PDF version of the full report.

 

Wrong Time to implement new tax breaks, November 28, 2011

 

CTBA analysis of the Enacted FY2012 Illinois budget, Updated October, 2011


Funding Our Future
is a thorough analysis of the state’s long-term spending patterns, budget problems and tax policy.

This report also includes an analysis of the two major gubernatorial candidates’ respective budget proposals. 

Funding Our Future has been peer reviewed by independent Ph.D. economists that are university-based, think tank-based, and working for the federal General Accounting Office. Click on the link to read the full report:
Funding Our Future: Reforming Illinois Tax Policy, October, 29, 2010

 

 

Gender Disparity in Human Services 

Women suffer disproportionately from the state's cuts to its human services budget according to CTBA’s "Gender Disparity in Human Services: The Impact of Illinois' State Budget Cuts on Human Services Supporting Women" report.  Over the last decade, the state has cut its real investment in assorted human service programs collectively by more than $4.4 billion.

December 16, 2010

 

Illinois FY2011 Operating and Total Deficit Remaining Under HB859, SA 1, 2, 3,
Updated October 18, 2010

 

 

Politics over policy: Swift “Reform”, Questionable Savings, Delayed Consequences  Illinois Retirement Security Initiative Briefing Paper, *REVISED* May 14, 2010.  This briefing paper examines the provisions and public policy implications of the new statute, which reduces retirement benefits for future public employees but fails to implement any real reforms needed to pay down the state’s huge debt for pension benefits already earned by current employees and retirees.  

 

Landmark Decision by the Illinois Supreme Court in Provena Covenant Medical Center: Non-Profit Hospitals Must Provide Charity Care in Exchange for Property Tax Exemption, March 18, 2010

 

Illinois State Funding for Human Services in Context: Reduced funding in FY 2011 would continue long-term pattern of cuts, harm vulnerable populations and fall disproportionately on small to midsized businesses, hurting the state economy, finds that after adjusting for inflation and population growth, Illinois under funded human services by $4.4 billion from Fiscal Year 2002 through Fiscal 2010.

Press Release

February 2010

 

 

Fact Sheets and Issue Briefs

 

Illinois Should Enact a Wage Sharing Program, Updated June 27, 2012

 

HJRCA 49:  A Constitutional Amendment Regarding the Rules governing Pension Benefit Increases, Updated June 22, 2012

 

Raise the Illinois Minimum Wage Now, Updated May 22, 2012

 

Fact Sheet: Creating A Graduated Income Tax, April 27, 2012

 

Issue Brief: Shifting the Normal Cost & Employer "Pick-Ups" for Teachers, April 27, 2012

 

Issue Brief:  The Taxpayer Accountability and Budget Stabilization Act (P.A. 96-1496), February 9, 2011

 

Fact Sheet:  Constitutional Spending Limits  (HJRCA 61), January 4, 2011

 

Illinois FY2011 Operating and Total Deficit Remaining Under HB859, SA 1, 2, 3,
Updated October 18, 2010

 

Issue Brief: A Comparison of Major Illinois Tax Proposals, September 2010

 

HB174 Q & A Fact Sheet, May 7, 2010

FY2011 Illinois Proposed Budget AnalysisMarch 31, 2010

Medicaid's Financing Structure Benefits Illinois by Pulling Federal Funds into the State's Economy, March, 31, 2010

HB174 Analysis, January, 2010

Fact Sheet:  Illinois State Structural Deficit Problems, January, 2010

HB174 Section by Section Synopsis, August, 2009

Education and Fiscal Responsibility Act, HB174Fact Sheet, June 2009

Fact Sheet on the four principles of good fiscal policy

Issue Brief on the Illinois Structural Deficit

 

Issue Brief:  Tax Fairness in Illinois

Illinois Fiscal System Basics

Why is the expanding the sales tax base so crucial to comprehensive tax and school funding reform? View a fact sheet on the sales tax expansion.

 

Quick Links to PowerPoint Presentations

The Case for Fundamental Tax Reform in Illinois: Why We Need a Graduated State Income Tax, May 23, 2012

 

Initial Analysis of Recent Tax Increases and Spending Caps Implemented Under P.A. 96-1496
January 26, 2011

 

"Illinois State Budget Outlook" presented at the Community Forum for Tax and Budget Reform hosted by Lutheran Social Services of Illinois. November 13, 2010

 The Illinois Funding Crisis is a compelling presentation that highlights the history behind Illinois’ worst unfunded pension liability and how a responsible revenue stream can solve it. August 26, 2009

CTBA Presentation on the IL Economy and How it Relates to Education Funding

 

Publications

Medicaid Plays a Critical Role in Illinois’ Economy (full report)

Executive Summary

While the primary benefit of Illinois’ Medicaid program is delivering health care to the most vulnerable members of society, Medicaid also has a significant economic dimension.  As Medicaid dollars funnel through the local economy, they support not only private health care providers and local businesses, but also wages, employment, business income, consumer spending, state tax revenue and overall economic output.

December 2009

 

 

Facing Reality:  Illinois Must Raise Revenue to Balance Its Budget
Illinois Cannot Solve Its Problems Without Increasing Revenue. The state simply is not in a position to invest in needed services on a sustainable basis without reforming its tax system and generating new revenue. 
July 2009

 

 

An Update: An Analysis of the Tax Exemptions Granted to Non-Profit Hospitals in Chicago and the Metro Area and the Charity Care Provided in Return

Executive Summary and Charts

Press Release

April 2009

 

Moving Forward: To Counter the Current Recession, Illinois State Government Should Maintain or Enhance Spending—Even if it Means Progressive Tax Increases—Rather Than Cut its Budget

March 2009

 

State of Working Illinois 2008

Executive Summary

December 2008

 

CTBA working in partnership with Northern Illinois University publishes annually the State of Working Illinois.  The report is one of the most detailed state analyses ever conducted on the Illinois economy.  The report tracks the effects of national and global economic trends on working families throughout the state and provides a wealth of information on jobs, income, and unemployment for each county in the state.  The report also identifies industrial sectors and occupational growth by sector, employment, education and income changes in each region. 

 

With over 800 tables and chartsThe State of Working Illinois is the comprehensive reference on the Illinois workforce.  Visit the StateOfWorkingIllinois.org website for every table and figure that appears in the printed book.

 

 

Money Matters: How the Illinois School Funding System Creates Significant Educational Inequities that Impact Most Students in the State

View the Presentation

September 2008

 

Citizen's Guide to the Illinois Budget & Tax System

A Primer on the Illinois Fiscal System & State Budget Pressures

January 2008

 

Citizen's Guide to the Illinois Budget and Tax System reviews the technical elements of the Illinois budget and tax system.  It provides in-depth analysis of historical spending and revenue trends, major budget pressures, deficit spending, bonds and debt, pensions and how the state shares revenue with local governments. 

 

With almost 50 tables and charts, the Citizen's Guide details the budget process, revenue system and challenges the state faces in clear terms.

 

 

 

Learn More About Comprehensive Fiscal Reform

Senate Bill 750 provides a new, permanent revenue source for schools, property tax relief for homeowners and $1 billion for debt service for a state infrastructure program. 

 

It is the only piece of legislation that will truly reform the way education is funded in Illinois by making the state the primary funder of K-12 education.  The bill also provides $300 million for community colleges and universities.

Visit our SB 750 Page

 

 

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