Updates & Events

Amanda Kass, CTBA Budget Director and Pension Specialist, Anders Lindall, AFSCME Council 31, and Diana Rickert, Managing Director of the Illinois Policy Institute talk with Carol Marin on WTTW "Channel 11's "Chicago Tonight" to analyze Mayor Rahm Emanuel's new pension reduction plan that includes a hefty property tax increase while also shrinking pension benefits.

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Ralph Martire, CTBA Executive Director, along with John Bouman, President of the Sargent Shriver National Center on Poverty Law, and Diana Rickert, Managing Director of the Illinois Policy Institute talk with Carol Marin on WTTW Channel 11's "Chicago Tonight" to discuss Gov. Pat Quinn's Budget Address.

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CTBA’s 12th Annual Fiscal Symposium, "Tough Choices for Tough Times: Solutions for Illinois' Well Being", featured keynote speakers Senate President John Cullerton and Comptroller Judy Baar Topinka. A panel discussion followed, which was moderated by Craig Dellimore, Political Editor for WBBM Newsradio 780 and 105.9.

April 27, 2012, CTBA’s 11th Annual Fiscal Symposium, Income Inequality, Economic Growth and Fiscal Policy:  How Do They Relate?, featured keynote speaker Josh Bivens, Acting Research and Policy Director at the Economic Policy Institute, and a panel of policymakers and experts from the fields of academia and business. CTBA released the following reports and/or fact sheets at the event.

March 25, 2011, CTBA Annual Fiscal Symposium was held at the the Union League Club of Chicago. Panelists analyzed what the state’s newly enacted tax increases and spending caps mean for everything from Illinois’ economy and business climate, to capacity to core programs like education and social services, and provided a lively discussion on the interplay between adequately funding basic services and economic development. Senate President John Cullerton provided the keynote address. A copy of Senator Cullerton's PowerPoint presentation can be downloaded by clicking on the link under "Resources" at the bottom of this page.

March 30, 2010, CTBA's 9th Annual Fiscal Symposium Symposium was held at the Union League Club of Chicago. Panelists discussed the economic effects of Illinois' fiscal policies, and Illinois' recurring and substantial budget shortfalls and have resulted in devastating cuts to vital public services like education and social services. These and other public services play a significant role in equipping individuals with the skills and knowledge necessary to become economically productive, and in creating an economic environment in which good paying, good-benefit jobs are obtainable.

Illinois Senate President John Cullerton opened CTBA’s 8th Annual Fiscal Symposium by saying that the budget is tight and the state agencies have already been cut to the bare bones. Cullerton said that the state must pass a budget bill and a capital bill and there is a $3 billion gap. That gap must be filled either through a temporary or permanent tax increase or other methods but the money must be found to move forward.

CTBA's 7th Annual Fiscal Symposium highlighted Illinois’ chronic annual budget shortfalls, and what was, or was not, being done to address this issue, as well as what other states are doing to address similar fiscal problems.

Public sector investment decisions in infrastructure, like schools, housing, transit, and healthcare, are imperative to creating a positive business climate in Illinois and in helping make the state competitive in an evolving global economy. This investment also produces a well trained workforce that has access to good jobs in every community.

CTBA's 7th Annual Fiscal Symposium explored the critical nature of these decisions and their impact on the long-term economic growth of Illinois.

CTBA's Annual Fiscal Symposium was held on January 17, 2006, and explored the current status of Illinois’ finances and what must be done to ensure Illinois has the sustainable capacity to fund public education, health care, human services, the state pension system, economic development and other essential state services, fairly, competitively and adequately.