Read more about our ongoing impact. 6.11.2020 The New York Times: Local governments should not shore up their budgets by preying on the very people COVID-19 hit the hardest. Read More 4.28.2020 The Bond Buyer: Chicago’s rating outlook slips on coronavirus-induced recession. Read More 4.26.2020 Herald & Review, Mike Belsky addresses podcast on how COVID-19 could impact municipal budgets. Listen Online 4.24.2020 The Bond Buyer: McConnell's bankruptcy suggestion boomerangs. Read More 4.17.2020 Illinois bond downgrade draws fire from former Fitch exec; Crain's Chicago Business. Read More 4.17.2020 Paula Worthington addresses COVID-19: Illinois State Tax Revenues. Read Paper 4.17.2020 Mike Belsky addresses how coronavirus is causing confusion with states' alcohol laws with ABC News. Read More 4.14.2020 Mike Belsky, WGN Radio Interview: The governor’s emergency powers in Illinois trump the president’s. Listen Here 4.6.2020 Paula Worthington addresses COVID-19 Fiscal Pressures in Illinois. Read More Review Unemployment Insurance Trust Fund Document Review State Retirement Systems Document 3.24.2020 Crain’s Chicago Business, "This pre-existing condition makes Illinois finances especially vulnerable to COVID". Read More 3.21.2020 The municipal bond market is experiencing a massive crunch as investors react to the coronavirus pandemic; featuring Michael Belsky. Read More 3.20.2020 Crain's Chicago Business: "There is no doubt this (virus) is going to have a significant economic impact on Illinois." Read More 3.10.2020 In the Detroit News, Chris Berry addresses Detroit's property tax methodology continuing to harm its poorest residents. Read More 2.28.2020 The Bond Buyer Tribute to Jim Spiotto: Municipal market mourns loss of Jim Spiotto Read More 2.20.2020 Micheal Belsky addresses Pritzker’s Budget Surprise. Read More 2.14.2020 Detroit Free Press featuring Chris Berry: Class action lawsuit filed over delayed Detroit property tax assessment notices. Read More 2.13.2020 Detroit, Wayne County Sued for overtaxing home owners; featuring Chris Berry. Read More 1.14.2020 Micheal Belsky featured in The Bond Buyer on how Cyberattacks are an emerging factor in public finance credit ratings for state and local governments, governmental authorities and non-profit community groups. Read More 1.10.2020 Chris Berry analyzes how Detroit overtaxed homeowners more than $600 million because it didn’t reevaluate property values after the Great Recession until 2017 Read More 11.05.2019 The state kicks off a $45 billion capital spending plan in the IL Road and Bridge Bond, it will have to compete with a crowd of issuers flooding the $3.8 trillion municipal debt market trying to capture cheap rates; featuring Michael Belsky in Bloomberg Read More 10.25.2019 Awards: CMF Advisory Board Member, Courtney Shea named 2019 Freda Johnson Award winner, alongside Ritta McLaughlin. Read More 10.23.2019 In the Associated Press, Michael Belsky analyses Chicago mayor offer of $838M for deficit fix. Read More 10.22.2019 WTTW: A Preview of Mayor Lightfoot’s Budget Address. Watch the Interview with Michael Belsky 10.18.2019 Bloomberg features Michael Belsky in addressing Chicago teachers strike; 25,000 members walked out, seeking higher pay, more nurses and housing for homeless students. Read More 10.15.2019 In WTTW interview Michael Belsky has a new idea for paying back Chicago’s pension debt: directly depositing profits from government-owned assets into the city’s pension funds. Watch the Interview with Michael Belsky 10.08.2019 Could Chicago Stomach a City Income Tax? Michael Belsky addresses in the Chicago Magazine. Read More 08.29.2019 WTTW featuring Michael Belsky: Chicago’s $838M Budget Gap and the Path Ahead. Watch the Interview with Michael Belsky 08.27.2019 Pew addresses spike in the national unemployment rate may be signaling state recessions; featuring Michael Belsky. Read More 07.09.2019 In Crain's Chicago Business, Paula Worthington approaches the City of Chicago's inadequate infrastructure with several key principles. Read More 05.29.2019 Paula Worthington addresses Pritzker's $41.5 billion Capital Plan. Read More 05.20.2019 In Crain's Chicago Business, Mike Belsky approaches a four-pronged financial for the new mayor. Read More 04.23.2019 Chicago Tribune: Code violation lawsuits mount as tenants bolt from troubled housing nonprofit that owns 81 Chicago buildings. Read More 04.05.2019 Executive Director Mike Belsky discusses in Crain's Chicago Business, before attacking Pritzker's tax plan, get the details. Read More 03.31.2019 Wall Street Journal: Chicago Prepares to Elect Its First Black Female Mayor. Read More 03.28.2019 Mike Belsky in the Chicago Reader: More money no problems. Read More 03.25.2019 Nasdaq: IPDN Announces New Board Appointments. Read More 03.24.2019 Wall Street Journal: Illinois Considers Ditching Its Flat Income Tax. Read More 03.08.2019 Executive Mike Belsky gives thoughts on ABC 7 Chicago: Governor JB Pritzker releases graduated income tax plan. Watch the Interview with Michael Belsky 02.25.2019 Bloomberg: Chicago's Next Mayor Can't Dodge Tax Pain Needed for Pension Fix. Read More 02.12.2019 Bloomberg: Executive Director Mike Belsky, Illinois for Sale: State Explores Ways to Pay Down Pension Debts. Read More 01.30.2019 Medill News Reports: Two Mayoral Candidates Propose City Public Bank. Read More 12.27.2018 Daily Herald: Are Bylaw changes weakening the tollway board, and still keeping them ethical? Read More 11.30.2018 The Center for Municipal Finance highlights innovations in investment, including the green bond. Read More 11.07.2018 In American City & County, Mike Belsky argues the concept of a mini-bond allows people to invest directly into a project they can see at home. Read More 10.25.2018 The Bond Buyer: Making an impact: Municipal Coalition aims to broaden muni appeal. Read More 10.15.2018 Belsky joins WTTW to discuss Chicago Pension Fix: Using Revenue from Public Assets. Watch the Interview with Michael Belsky 10.11.2018 The Bond Buyer, Mike Belsky argues the case for asset transfers in Chicago and beyond. Read More 09.21.2018 Executive Director Mike Belsky proposes that Chicago consider the private sector practice of depositing income-producing assets in a pension fund, rather than issuing bonds to increase funding levels. Read More 08.28.2018 In UChicago News Professor Christopher Berry describes how the Assessor’s Office tried to foil his policy reform. Read More 07.30.2018 Executive Director Mike Belsky in Bloomberg: Bond Sales by Cities Borrowing to Pay for Lost Court Fights Jump. Read More 07.08.2018 Chicago Tribune: Berrios tweaks formula; home assessments rise on North Side, fall on South Side. Read More 05.05.2018 Village Free Press report the state had been garnishing $1.4 million in tax revenues owed to the city of Harvey, apparently forcing officials there to cut 40 police and fire department personnel last month. Read More 04.16.2018 WTTW New Report Digs Into Drastically Underfunded Police, Fire Pensions. Read More 03.16.2018 Chicago Tribune: Academic Director Chris Berry report flawed assessments under Assessor Berrios caused $2 billion shift in Chicago property taxes. Read More 02.01.2018 The Chicago Tribune and ProPublica report on a Cook County property tax system study that is still under wraps. Academic Director Chris Berry discusses why that study is unnecessary. Read More 12.14.2017 The Chicago Tribune reports on civil rights lawsuit filed against Cook County Assessor Joseph Berrios. The Center’s research on property assessments and tax inequities is cited in the lawsuit. Read More 07.19.2017 Crain's Chicago Business interviews Executive Director Mike Belsky about William Blair's exit from the muni bond business. Read More 06.09.2017 Chicago Magazine mentions the Center for Municipal Finance’s study on property tax appeals in Cook County in its coverage of the Tribune’s series on Cook County property taxes. Read More 06.07.2017 A newly released study by the Center for Municipal Finance on property tax appeals in Cook County is featured in a new report by the Chicago Tribune. Read More 05.30.2017 Amanda Kass explains why Illinois’ non-budget is actually the worst budget ever in Chicago Magazine. Read More 05.26.2017 Chicago Magazine quotes Amanda Kass in its coverage of Illinois budget negotiations. Read More 02.15.2017 Executive Director Mike Belsky writes about how Illinois can stop its fiscal shame in Crain’s Chicago Business. Read More 12.06.2016 The Bond Buyer reports that the University of Chicago Harris School of Public Policy named former Chicago chief financial officer Lois Scott as the inaugural chair of the advisory board that oversees its expanding Center for Municipal Finance. Read More 11.21.2016 Crain's Chicago Business highlighted that former Chicago CFO Lois Scott has been named the inaugural chair of the Center for Municipal Finance's advisory board. Read More 09.20.2016 Amanda Kass, Assistant Director of the Center for Municipal Finance, examines the causes of Illinois' pension crisis via Tax Analysts Read More 08.09.2016 Michael Belsky to start as inaugural executive director of the Center for Municipal Finance August 1 via Chicago Tribune Read More 08.05.2016 What's Up with Former Highland Park Mayor? via Daily North Shore Read More 08.02.2016 Former Highland Park Mayor Supports PACE Legislation in Illinois Read More 07.26.2016 Former Highland Park Mayor Belsky to Head Center for Municipal Finance at University of Chicago via Highland Park Patch Read More 07.14.2016 Michael Belsky calls the Lincoln-Way HS District's financial practices "troubled" via Chicago Tribune Read More 06.14.2016 Michael Belsky on the risks a local school district assumed by borrowing on the assumption of sustained growth via Chicago Tribune Read More 05.06.2016 Associate Prof. Chris Berry on whether Detroit's bankruptcy plan could serve as a model for other Rust Belt cities via Bloomberg BNA Read More 03.07.2016 Associate Prof. Chris Berry on the proliferation of special districts in the U.S. via Last Week Tonight with John Oliver Watch the Clip 05.19.2016 Michael Belsky on why Chicago must increase taxes via Chicago Sun-Times Read More Recent News Harris Presents the War Horse Symposium, Inspired by Student-Written White Paper Mon., March 20, 2023 Alumni Profile: Jabril Eyman, DAC’22 Thu., March 16, 2023 More news Upcoming Events Data and Policy Summer Scholar (DPSS) Program Roundtable with Alumni Tue., March 21, 2023 | 8:30 AM PKU-UChicago Summer School Faculty Spotlight: Mini Class with Professor Xuezheng Qin (Peking University) Wed., March 22, 2023 | 8:00 AM More events