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 Weekly Review
Provided through the Generous Support of the McCormick Tribune Foundation
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In This Issue
New CTBA Report Analyzing the Cook County Fiscal System
Capital Plan, Gaming & Transit Funding
Budget Update
Kid's Health Insurance: Call Your Congressional Representatives Today
Calendar
CTBA Weekly Review September 25, 2007
New Publication  
New CTBA Report Analyzes the Cook County Fiscal System
 

A new report released this week by CTBA analyzes the basic public services Cook County provides and the revenue sources that fund them.  The report also examines the Cook County fiscal system to determine whether it has the ability to fund and sustain the level of public services it currently provides. 

 

The analysis reveals Cook County has what is called a "structural deficit."  A structural deficit exists when a public entity's fiscal system is unable to generate sufficient revenue to support base-level public services from one year to the next, adjusting solely for annual inflationary costs. 

 
The report also makes recommendations for designing a tax structure that supports the local public services Cook County Provides.
 
Key Findings:

 

 

  • The County's structural deficit has contributed substantially to its total deficit for fiscal year 2008, which is estimated to be $288 million  The County's structural deficit will cause its total deficit to increase to $568 million in three years (fiscal year 2010), to $808 million in five years (fiscal year 2012) and to $1.5 billion in ten years (fiscal year 2017).
  • The principal reason for the County's structural deficit is that the County's revenue system is fundamentally flawed: most of its revenue sources do not grow with the economy while costs do.  
  • As a result of recent federal cuts to the Medicaid program, federal Medicaid dollars declined by $139 million between fiscal years 2005 and 2007. 
  • In fiscal year 2008, it is estimated the County will lose $68.2 million upon the implementation of new federal Medicaid regulations. 
  • The only revenue source used to fund basic public services in Cook County that grows annually is the sales tax.
  • Nearly half - 47 percent - of patients in the Cook County health care system do not qualify or are not enrolled in Medicaid or Medicare, and do not have private health care coverage. 
  • In addition to changes in federal law, there appear to be flaws in Cook County's Medicaid and Medicare billing practices that inhibit the County's ability to receive all federal and state funds to which it is entitled. 
  • Unless Cook County undertakes fundamental fiscal reform so that its revenue sources grow with the economy and keep pace with the natural inflationary costs of providing public services from one year to the next, it cannot sustain current public service levels.   
  • In conjunction with fiscal reform, the County must implement a billing system at the Bureau of Health that captures all federal and state health care funds to which the County is entitled for public health services delivered.

 

For more information about this report, contact

Heather O'Donnell, Director of Healthcare & Human Services,
at 312-332-1348 or hodonnell@ctbaonline.org 

 

 
Capital Bill & Transit Update  
slot machineMore Casinos?
HB 2035, a massive expansion of gaming to provide funding for a long awaited capital plan passed the Senate last Tuesday.  The 37-15 vote would put a land-based casino in Chicago and add two riverboat casinos at unspecified locations.  Additionally, existing casinos would be allowed to add a total of 6,000 slot machines or other gaming positions. 
 
The bill contains more than $25 billion for state construction programs, when federal and local dollars are combined with $13 billion in state funds.  Additional funding will go to a loan for mass transit and education.  The bill now awaits House action.
 
Read testimony given in May 2005 by economist Dr. Victor Matheson to the Illinois General Assembly on the fiscal impact of riverboat gaming.  Dr. Matheson claims, among others things, that gaming would generate far less money than current speculations suggest and there are important social costs to consider when reviewing a gaming expansion proposal (such as increased crime and pathological gambling disorders).
 
Resources About Gaming:
 

  • Read the latest Illinois Gaming Board Annual Report, 2006

  • Commission on Government Forecasting and Accountability report on gaming revenues, Wagering in Illinois: 2006 Update.

  • Commission on Government Forecasting and Accountability report,Discussion on Riverboat Gambling in Illinois (2005) - complete with state by state comparisons.

    What Does the Bill Do To Fix the Mass Transit Funding Problem?  Possible Sales Tax Increase?

    HB 2035 does nothing to fix the mass transit funding problem.  It simply provides a $200 million loan for Chicago's mass transit system to fund operations into next summer.  At that point the system would again need additional funding. 
     
    Senate President Emil Jones, previously opposed to a regional sales tax increase for Chicago mass transit, may now back a tax increase plan.  Last Friday the Senate President said, "I don't like a sales tax because it's so regressive, but I have voted for taxes in the past and will support them again."  Jones said he intends to pass some version of a transit funding bill in the Senate in October. 
     
    Resources:
     
    Read the CTBA report, Transit Uncovered: How to Improve Public Transport in Your Community.  The report provides an introduction to public transit in Illinois:  what it is, how it's funding, who the major stakeholders are and how to get involved. 
     
    For more information about Transportation in Illinois visit http://www.ctbaonline.org/transportation.htm
    		•
    Springfield Update - FY 2008 Budget  
    Capitol DomeHouse To Vote on Governor's Vetoes
     
    Regional Hearings
    Hearings are currently being held across the state to examine the impact of the Governor's fiscal year 2008 budget vetoes.  You can still attend hearings in the City of Chicago, the North and South Chicago suburbs and LaSalle County.  House and Senate members will be present at the hearings.  The forums are open to the public and all are urged to attend.
     
     
     
    Override?
    The House will have to act to override the Governor's vetoes by Oct. 2nd.   The House has planned a Committee of the Whole hearing on October 1st to discuss the cuts.
    Senate President Emil Jones, D-Chicago, has said he will not allow senators to vote on restoring budget cuts made by the Governor.
    For a useful analysis of all 1,504 items vetoed or reduced in funding by the Governor, read the CTBA report
    State Children's Health Insurance Program  
    Congress to Vote Today
     

    ACTION: Please call Senator Durbin and your Representative Today and urge them to vote YES on the Bipartisan Agreement of the State Children's Health Insurance Program.
    Senator Durbin: (202) 224-2152 or (312) 353-4952

    Find and contact your representative here


    Background: The State Children's Health Insurance Program (SCHIP) was enacted with bi-partisan support in 1997 and provides over six million children across the country health insurance.  According to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, over 316,000 Illinois children are enrolled in the program.

    SCHIP provides matching federal funds to states to provide health coverage to children in families who income is about 200 percent of the poverty line (about $41,300 for a family of four). 

    However, SCHIP is not a permanent law and will expire on September 30, 2007 if Congress does not reauthorize it. 

    Today, a bi-partisan agreement to reauthorize SCHIP will hit the House floor.  The Senate will vote on the agreement Thursday. 

     

    The agreement would boost the program's total funding to $35 billion over the next five years, with the expansion to be paid for by a 61-cent increase in the federal excise tax on cigarettes.  The added funding would allow another four million children access to healthcare.

     

    President Bush and many House Republicans contend that the legislation would inappropriately enlarge the government's role in health care and encourage middle-class parents to drop private insurance. Lawmakers from both parties disagree with these statements. 

    President Bush has proposed a funding increase of $5 billion over the next five years, which would bring the total to $30 billion over that period. The Congressional Budget Office has said that the President's proposal is not enough to continue covering just the number of children who are already in the program.

    If the program expires, as it is set to do on September 30th, Illinois will be faced with a loss of federal health care dollars and children's health coverage will be put at risk!

    Tuesday's vote will be a critical juncture in the effort to reauthorize SCHIP.   The bill must pass with the two-thirds majority required to override the administration's threatened veto.

     

     

    Resources:

    Center on Budget and Policy Priorities:
     
     
    More information on children's health insurance can be found here
    Calendar of Events  
    WHAT? National Association of Social Workers (NASW) IL Chapter's Statewide Conference, "Bridging Health Disparities: Help Starts Here"

    WHEN? September 24-26, 2007

    WHERE? Holiday Inn Chicago Mart Plaza, Chicago, IL

    Click here for more information. 

     

    WHAT? State of Working Illinois Community Forum - Peoria

    WHEN?  Tuesday, September 25,  7:30 am to 9:00 am

    WHERE? The Central Illinois Workforce Development Board

                   One Technology Plaza

                   211 Fulton Street, Suite 300

    Contact Dia Cirillo at dcirillo@ctbaonline.org for more information

    The forum, funded by the Grand Victoria Foundation, will bring together key leaders in the area to discuss the regions economic trends and opportunities.

     

    WHAT? State of Working Illinois Community Forum - Macomb

    WHEN?  Friday, September 28,  10:00 am to 12:00 pm

    WHERE? TBA

    Contact Dia Cirillo at dcirillo@ctbaonline.org for more information

    The forum, funded by the Grand Victoria Foundation, will bring together key leaders in the area to discuss the regions economic trends and opportunities.

     

    WHAT? Making the Connection: Public Benefits and Single Adults & Public Benefits for Youths up to 21

    WHEN?October 2, 2007

    WHERE?Naperville, IL

    Presented by the DuPage Federation on Human Services

    Register Here

     

    WHAT? Illinois School Funding- It's Time to Talk

    WHEN?October 6, 2007 1-4pm

    WHERE? National-Louis University, Chicago Campus, 122 S. Michigan Avenue, 2nd floor atrium
    FEATURING: Professor Allan Odden
    Professor of Educational Leadership and Policy Analysis at the University of Wisconsin-Madison and Co-Director of the Consortium for Policy Research in Education (CPRE), Honorable Luther Olsen Wisconsin State Senate, Honorable Miguel del Valle Clerk, City of Chicago, Mr. Ralph Martire Executive Director, Center for Tax and Budget Accountability, Honorable Kathy Ryg
    Illinois House of Representatives, Dr. Donald Schlomann
    Superintendent, School District 303, St. Charles

     

    Sponsored by:
     A+ Illinois
    National-Louis University
    Golden Apple Foundation

     

     

    WHAT? Illinois Alcoholism and Drug Dependence Association Annual Conference

    WHEN?October 1-3, 2007

    WHERE?The Wyndham Drake, Oak Brook, Illinois

    More Information and Registration Here

     

    WHAT? Making the Connection: Mental Health and Public Benefits & Understanding Spenddown

    WHEN?October 12, 2007

    WHERE?Naperville, IL

    Presented by the DuPage Federation on Human Services

    Register Here

     

    WHAT? Property and Asset Management: Community Housing Developers Institute

    WHEN? October 16-17, 2007

    WHERE? ICAA Training Facility, 3435 Liberty Drive, Springfield, IL
    Contact:     nate@housingactionil.org or 312-939-6074 x 201 More info: www.housingactionil.org.

     

    WHAT? 2008 Illinois State Budget Briefing:  What Nonprofits Need to Know.

    WHEN? Wednesday October 24, 9-11am

    WHERE? Spertus Institute - 618 S. Michigan, Chicago

    Hear what experts have to say about the areas of the state budget that will have the greatest impact on the nonprofit sector and get answers to your questions. 
     
    Legislative speakers will include Senator Don Harmon, Senator James T. Meeks, and Representative Paul D. Froehlich (invited).   Additional distinguished guests will also join us as speakers, including Ralph Martire of the Center for Tax and Budget Accountability and Lawrence J. Suffredin, Jr., Cook County Commissioner.
     

    Co-Hosted by The Center for Tax and Budget Accountability and the Donor's Forum

    Register online or call 312-578-0090, toll free 888-578-0090.

     

    Contact Chrissy Mancini at

    cmancini@ctbaonline.org for more information
     

    WHAT? Understanding Appeals & Domestic Violence and Public Benefits

    WHEN?October 24, 2007

    WHERE?Naperville, IL

    Presented by the DuPage Federation on Human Services

    Register Here

     

    WHAT? Immigrants and Public Benefits & Putting the Pieces Together

    WHEN?October 25, 2007

    WHERE?Naperville, IL

    Presented by the DuPage Federation on Human Services

    Register Here

     

    WHAT? Illinois Food Summit 2007 "Building on Success Through Collaboration"

    WHEN? November 8, 2007

    WHERE? Kankakee Community College, 100 College Drive, Kankakee, IL 60901
    More info: http://inc.aces.uiuc.edu/

    Sponsored by  Illinois Interagency Nutrition Council and the

    University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign Extension

     

    WHAT?

     Affordable Housing Month

    WHEN? November 1-30, 2007

    WHERE? Public education events and activities to be held throughout the state
    Contact:     nate@housingactionil.org or 312-939-6074 x 201 More info: www.housingactionil.org.

     

    WHAT? Release of the 2007 State of Working Illinois Report and Policy Forum

    WHEN? Wednesday, December 5, 2007 from 8:30 to 12:30

    WHERE? Union League Club of Chicago, main Lounge, 65 West Jackson Blvd, Chicago, IL

    INFO:  This is the second detailed analysis of workforce and economic trends produced by the Center for Governmental Studies and the Office for Social Policy Research, both at Northern Illinois University and the Center for Tax and Budget Accountability.  Statewide data as well as data on individual regions and counties will be presented in the report. 
     
    For more information contact Tracy Bisacky at tbisacky@ctbaonline.org
     

    WHAT? Making the Connection Basic Training

    WHEN? Wednesday, January 23, 2008

    WHERE? Naperville, IL

    Presented by the DuPage Federation on Human Services the session contains practical information in an easy to understand format regarding many programs available to assist low income persons.

    Register Here

     

    WHAT? Making the Connection: Public Benefits and Single Adults & Public Benefits for Youths up to 21

    WHEN? March 5, 2008

    WHERE? Naperville, IL

    Presented by the DuPage Federation on Human Services

    Register Here

     

    WHAT? Making the Connection: Mental Health and Public Benefits & Understanding Spenddown

    WHEN? March 6, 2008

    WHERE?Naperville, IL

    Presented by the DuPage Federation on Human Services

    Register Here

     

    WHAT? Understanding Appeals & Domestic Violence and Public Benefits

    WHEN? March 18, 2008

    WHERE?Naperville, IL

    Presented by the DuPage Federation on Human Services

    Register Here

     

    WHAT? Immigrants and Public Benefits & Putting the Pieces Together

    WHEN? March 19, 2008

    WHERE?Naperville, IL

    Presented by the DuPage Federation on Human Services

    Register Here

     

    WHAT? Making the Connection Basic Training

    WHEN? Tuesday, June 10, 2008

    WHERE? Naperville, IL

    Presented by the DuPage Federation on Human Services the session contains practical information in an easy to understand format regarding many programs available to assist low income persons.

    Register Here
    . 
    Do you have something to share in the Weekly Review?
     
    Please email Chrissy Mancini