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
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
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
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
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
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
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
Ralph Martire, executive director of the Center for Tax and Budget Accreditation, will discuss the current status of the state of the Illinois budget during at the Aurora Public Library's Eola Branch, 555 S. Eola Road, Aurora, this evening at 6 p.m.
State Rep. Stephanie Kifowit, D-Oswego
Days before classes start, the Chicago Teachers Union has announced it will hold a new strike authorization vote. The union’s 40-member negotiating team has recommended an October walkout.
If union members vote yes – as they did in December by an 88 percent margin – the House of
CTBA Executive Director Ralph Martire recently spoke with WGN Radio's Mike Stephen on Outside the Loop about education funding. Speaking about Illinois' fiscal imbalance, Ralph told listeners, "You can't rank at or near the bottom in total state and local tax burden and meet your
What's the outlook for Chicago taxpayers, and what are the policy tradeoffs in choosing property taxes, utility taxes, or other sources of revenue? On Tuesday, CTBA's Amanda Kass appeared on the CBS 2 news to answer those questions, and explain that today's need for increased revenue comes after years of deliberate pension underfunding.