Rockford Sun

Gov. J.B. Pritzker recently presented his $45.4 billion budget while giving his annual State of the State at the Old State Capitol.

While Pritzker was proud of the budget and reiterated that the state is in good economic shape, the budget was criticized by Sen. Dave Syverson (R-Cherry Valley).

“The governor was spinning a grand tale for his listeners about his Administration’s accomplishments on behalf of our state, but the reality is people are continuing to leave Illinois,” Syverson said on his website. “Census figures show that Illinois lost more than 100,000 people just last year and one-year election-year gimmicks will not reverse this trend.”

Pritzker said that the state took in $3.9 billion in increased revenue, but Syverson said it was important to remember that much of this was one-time federal money used to pay businesses and individuals during the pandemic. 

“That money will not be there next year,” Syverson said. “Yet the Governor has laid out a budget based on these revenues being ongoing – which they are not. His budget increases  base spending by a massive $2.5 billion. This is going to create a financial cliff for taxpayers next year, of course after the election is over.”

According to NBC Chicago, the budget includes tax relief on groceries, gasoline and property. Pritzker’s budget calls for lifting the 1% sales tax on groceries for a year, as well as freezing the motor fuel tax at 39.2 cents per gallon instead of incorporating a 2.2 cent increase in the gas tax. According to ABC7, the budget also suspends licensing fees for healthcare professionals, as well as bars and restaurants. There is a $1 billion one-time tax cut that includes property tax rebates for up to $300 for about 2 million homeowners. Spending increases included $350 million more for K-12 education, $250 million for DCFS to make hirings and $315 million for violence prevention programs. Pritzker said that this year the state is expected to end with a surplus.

“After decades of credit downgrades, by the end of my second full fiscal year in office, Illinois received two credit upgrades – the first upgrades the state has received in over 20 years,” Pritzker said. “The massive bill backlog that contained bills past due for as long as 500 days, now contains only unpaid General Funds bills averaging 15 days old. And that $3.2 billion structural deficit? Well today I’m pleased  to announce Illinois will end this fiscal year with a $1.7 billion surplus, the first of its kind in more than 25 years.”