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
Pension reform, RIP?
In a case with ominous implications for the state's pension reform law, the Illinois Supreme Court ruled today that the state constitution prevents any diminishment of health care benefits for retired state employees.
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We expect elected officials to address societal needs with well-designed, effective policy initiatives. Of course, the overtly political milieu in which public policy is created usually frustrates this expectation.
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FOX 32 Sunday talks with Greg Baise, President of the Illinois Manufacturers Association, and Ralph Martire, Executive Director for the Center for Tax and Budget Accountability, about the budget the General Assembly sent to Governor Quinn, as well as individual and corporate taxation,
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Illinois lawmakers are scrambling to cut billions of dollars from the state budget. It follows the apparent collapse of efforts to postpone an income tax cut scheduled to take effect next New Year’s Day.
Income Tax
Now 5%
Jan 1st: 3.75%
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When state and local fiscal systems are not designed to work in a modern economy, government must turn to smaller user taxes to fill budget holes to provide needed services, services that really should be funded by primary revenue.
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Ralph Martire, executive director of the Center for Tax and Budget Acountability, speaks about Illinois school funding during a forum at the Decatur Civic Center. Pictured from left are Martire, state Sen. Andy Manar, Warrensburg-Latham Superintendent Kristen Kendrick and Todd Covault, director of business affairs for the Decatur School District.
Senator Manar is the driving force behind Senate Bill 16, which seeks to change the distribution of education funds but not the amount. Addressing the amount of funds is an issue to be dealt with later, he said at a forum held on Thursday in the Decatur Civic Center Theater. The forum was sponsored by Archer Daniels Midland Co., WSOY and the Herald & Review. The first order of business is to change the current model of distribution.
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To inform the community about the proposed legislation (Senate Bill 16, or SB16), the Education Coalition of Macon County hosted a public forum Thursday evening in the Decatur Civic Center entitled, “Transforming Our Schools: A Panel on Funding Reform.” The panel consisted of Sen. Manar; Decatur Public Schools Director of Business Affairs Dr. Todd Covault; Warrensburg-Latham School District Superintendent Kristen Kendrick; and Ralph Martire, Executive Director of the Center for Tax and Budget Accountability. The event was moderated by Bill Wheelhouse of WIUS radio station and Brian Byers of local station WSOY, and was sponsored by ADM, WSOY, and the Herald & Review.
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The Illinois General Assembly has still not decided whether to keep permanent the income tax increase enacted in 2011. Both supporters and opponents are ratcheting up the debate; with supporters, such as various state agencies, predicting dire budgetary circumstances if the increase is allowed to expire. WBEZ talks with Ralph Martire of the Center for Tax and Budget Accountability and Bob Flider, Director of the Illinois Dept. of Agriculture, about how the revenue from the increase has been spent and what the fiscal picture will really look like if the increase is allowed to expire.
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Fiscal reality check: Illinois has an accumulated deficit north of $7.5 billion. That's roughly 30 percent of total spending on the core services of education, health care, social services and public safety, which collectively account for more than 90 percent of Illinois' annual service expenditures. Illinois has that huge deficit despite the new revenue generated by the temporary income tax increases (personal and corporate) that passed a couple of years ago, and the $4.7 billion in core service spending cuts made over the past five years.
And things are about to get worse...........