CTBA experts are available to provide insight, analysis, and data to the press on a wide range of public policy issues. In addition, CTBA disseminates new research and timely updates on policy developments to the media.
What We Do
- Policy analysis and advocacy
- Empirical research
- Advice and technical assistance
- Strategic leadership in coalitions
- Legislative testimony
- Public education
Solving the school funding problem is simple. The state needs to raise taxes. Simple. Problem solved.
That was the message delivered by Ralph Martire, an expert on school funding, at a forum sponsored by the League of Women Voters of Central Kane County on Oct. 20 at the Batavia Public
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Voters on Tuesday approved an amendment to the Illinois Constitution requiring that gas taxes, license plate fees and other transportation-related revenue be spent only on transportation expenses.
The amendment, which creates a so-called “lockbox” for transportation funds, had broad
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With Election Day just around the corner, public policy organizations are urging voters to proceed with caution on a proposed amendment to the Illinois Constitution that would create a “lockbox” for transportation funding.
As one example, the Center for Tax and Budget Accountability,
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While the presidential race dominates headlines, important things are happening at the state and local
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Almost lost in the battle over how to close Illinois' $8 billion budget hole is the fact that the state effectively gives away even more than that amount each year in tax breaks.
A plethora of 257 separate categories of breaks -- called tax expenditures by experts -- cost Illinois $9.4
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Illinois' credit rating was recently reduced to BBB from BBB+ by S&P Global Ratings, increasing interest on its borrowing and lowering the value of its bonds.
Mike Amrozowicz, the Republican candidate for the District 31 state Senate seat, considers this to be a real black eye for the
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Crossing the line separating Indiana and Illinois sometimes means dealing with different laws and customs. Readers are asked to share ideas for this weekly feature. This week: Unpaid bills.
Illinois is set to spend $6 billion to $8 billion more than the $31.8 billion in
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One key to the 11th-hour settlement in negotiations with the Chicago Teachers Union on Monday night was Mayor Rahm Emanuel’s decision to declare a $175 million surplus in the city’s tax increment funds – $88 million of it to help plug Chicago Public Schools’ budget gap. But his decision raised
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A commission of state lawmakers has been meeting twice a month to discuss how we can change Illinois' education funding formula.
Though the state is spending more money on education this year than in the past seven years at least, some advocates argue it's still not enough, and the way we
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Tuesday, September 20th, at 9am, at the Union League Club, 65 W. Jackson, State Superintendent of Education Tony Smith, along with Rep. Will Davis (D-30), Sen. Toi Hutchinson (D-40), Sen. Kimberly Lightford (D-4), Sen. Karen McConnaughay (D-33), and Rep. Robert Pritchard