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.

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4.28.2020

The Bond Buyer: Chicago’s rating outlook slips on coronavirus-induced recession.

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Mike Belsky

4.26.2020

Herald & Review, Mike Belsky addresses podcast on how COVID-19 could impact municipal budgets.

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4.24.2020

The Bond Buyer: McConnell's bankruptcy suggestion boomerangs.

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4.17.2020

Illinois bond downgrade draws fire from former Fitch exec; Crain's Chicago Business.

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4.17.2020

Paula Worthington addresses COVID-19: Illinois State Tax Revenues.

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4.17.2020

Mike Belsky addresses how coronavirus is causing confusion with states' alcohol laws with ABC News.

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4.14.2020

Mike Belsky, WGN Radio Interview: The governor’s emergency powers in Illinois trump the president’s.

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4.6.2020

Paula Worthington addresses COVID-19 Fiscal Pressures in Illinois.

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3.24.2020

Crain’s Chicago Business, "This pre-existing condition makes Illinois finances especially vulnerable to COVID".

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3.21.2020

The municipal bond market is experiencing a massive crunch as investors react to the coronavirus pandemic; featuring Michael Belsky.

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3.20.2020

Crain's Chicago Business: "There is no doubt this (virus) is going to have a significant economic impact on Illinois."

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3.10.2020

In the Detroit News, Chris Berry addresses Detroit's property tax methodology continuing to harm its poorest residents.

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Chris Berry

 

2.28.2020

The Bond Buyer Tribute to Jim Spiotto: Municipal market mourns loss of Jim Spiotto

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2.20.2020

Micheal Belsky addresses Pritzker’s Budget Surprise.

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2.14.2020

Detroit Free Press featuring Chris Berry: Class action lawsuit filed over delayed Detroit property tax assessment notices.

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2.13.2020

Detroit, Wayne County Sued for overtaxing home owners; featuring Chris Berry.

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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. 

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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

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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 

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10.25.2019

Awards: CMF Advisory Board Member, Courtney Shea named 2019 Freda Johnson Award winner, alongside Ritta McLaughlin.

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10.23.2019

In the Associated Press, Michael Belsky analyses Chicago mayor offer of $838M for deficit fix.

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10.22.2019

WTTW: A Preview of Mayor Lightfoot’s Budget Address.

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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.

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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.

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10.08.2019

Could Chicago Stomach a City Income Tax? Michael Belsky addresses in the Chicago Magazine.

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08.29.2019

WTTW featuring Michael Belsky: Chicago’s $838M Budget Gap and the Path Ahead.

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08.27.2019

Pew addresses spike in the national unemployment rate may be signaling state recessions; featuring Michael Belsky.

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07.09.2019

In Crain's Chicago Business, Paula Worthington approaches the City of Chicago's inadequate infrastructure with several key principles.

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05.29.2019

Paula Worthington addresses Pritzker's $41.5 billion Capital Plan.

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05.20.2019

In Crain's Chicago Business, Mike Belsky approaches a four-pronged financial for the new mayor.

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04.23.2019

Chicago Tribune: Code violation lawsuits mount as tenants bolt from troubled housing nonprofit that owns 81 Chicago buildings.

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04.05.2019

Executive Director Mike Belsky discusses in Crain's Chicago Business, before attacking Pritzker's tax plan, get the details.

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03.31.2019

Wall Street Journal: Chicago Prepares to Elect Its First Black Female Mayor.

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03.28.2019

Mike Belsky in the Chicago Reader: More money no problems.

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03.25.2019

Nasdaq: IPDN Announces New Board Appointments.

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03.24.2019

Wall Street Journal: Illinois Considers Ditching Its Flat Income Tax.

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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.

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02.12.2019

Bloomberg: Executive Director Mike Belsky, Illinois for Sale: State Explores Ways to Pay Down Pension Debts.

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01.30.2019

Medill News Reports: Two Mayoral Candidates Propose City Public Bank.

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12.27.2018

Daily Herald:  Are Bylaw changes weakening the tollway board, and still keeping them ethical?

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11.30.2018

The Center for Municipal Finance highlights innovations in investment, including the green bond. 

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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.

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10.25.2018

The Bond Buyer: Making an impact: Municipal Coalition aims to broaden muni appeal.

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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.

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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.

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08.28.2018

In UChicago News Professor Christopher Berry describes how the Assessor’s Office tried to foil his policy reform.

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07.30.2018

Executive Director Mike Belsky in Bloomberg: Bond Sales by Cities Borrowing to Pay for Lost Court Fights Jump.

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07.08.2018

Chicago Tribune: Berrios tweaks formula; home assessments rise on North Side, fall on South Side.

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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.

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04.16.2018

WTTW New Report Digs Into Drastically Underfunded Police, Fire Pensions.

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03.16.2018

Chicago Tribune: Academic Director Chris Berry report flawed assessments under Assessor Berrios caused $2 billion shift in Chicago property taxes.

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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.

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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.

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07.19.2017

Crain's Chicago Business interviews Executive Director Mike Belsky about William Blair's exit from the muni bond business.

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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.

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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.

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05.30.2017

Amanda Kass explains why Illinois’ non-budget is actually the worst budget ever in Chicago Magazine.

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05.26.2017

Chicago Magazine quotes Amanda Kass in its coverage of Illinois budget negotiations.

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02.15.2017

Executive Director Mike Belsky writes about how Illinois can stop its fiscal shame in Crain’s Chicago Business.

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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. 

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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.

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09.20.2016

Amanda Kass, Assistant Director of the Center for Municipal Finance, examines the causes of Illinois' pension crisis via Tax Analysts 

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08.09.2016

Michael Belsky to start as inaugural executive director of the Center for Municipal Finance August 1 via Chicago Tribune 

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08.05.2016

What's Up with Former Highland Park Mayor? via Daily North Shore 

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08.02.2016

Former Highland Park Mayor Supports PACE Legislation in Illinois  

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07.26.2016

Former Highland Park Mayor Belsky to Head Center for Municipal Finance at University of Chicago via Highland Park Patch 

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07.14.2016

Michael Belsky calls the Lincoln-Way HS District's financial practices "troubled" via Chicago Tribune 

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06.14.2016

Michael Belsky on the risks a local school district assumed by borrowing on the assumption of sustained growth via Chicago Tribune 

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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 

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03.07.2016

Associate Prof. Chris Berry on the proliferation of special districts in the U.S. via Last Week Tonight with John Oliver 

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05.19.2016

Michael Belsky on why Chicago must increase taxes via Chicago Sun-Times 

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