Rockford Sun

In a June 7 Facebook post, Sen. Dave Syverson (R-Cherry Valley) voiced his doubts about the 2023-2024 budget.

"Questions remain about whether the new budget will be truly balanced at the year’s end due to underestimating spending obligations throughout the budget,” he wrote on Facebook.

An element of the 2023-2024 budget that concerns Syverson is the free healthcare insurance program for immigrants.

“The shortfall for funding this one program alone will make the budget unbalanced. That number is just the cost for adult undocumented healthcare. In addition to providing adult healthcare to the undocumented population, Illinois is also covering the cost of children’s healthcare, housing, cash assistance, daycare, education, and other social service programs,” Syverson said. “All of these programs are growing at unsustainable levels and will lead to crowding out current human service programs and to future tax increases to cover the shortfalls.”

The 2023 Fiscal Budget details the Department of Human Services’ programs for trauma, mental and behavioral health gained  $50 million.

In a June 9 week in review, Syverson expressed disappointment that the state's sales tax on groceries is set to be reinstated on July 1, and this is just an added cost for Illinois families.

About the budget, Syverson had this to say: “With just a $100 million surplus, which is minimal in a $50.6 billion budget, it is doubtful there will be sufficient revenues to cover the true costs the state will incur,” Syverson said. “Additionally, Illinois’ budget has increased by $11.1 billion since Gov. Pritzker took office. This record amount of spending is not sustainable and leading us toward massive future tax increases.”

Syverson has represented the people of Illinois since 1993. He is currently the Senator for the 35th District. He is a life-long Illinois resident who has been a member of chambers of commerce, the National Federation of Independent Business and National Association of Financial Planners. He has served on a variety of committees, including Appropriations- Health and Human as the Minority Spokesperson; Behavioral and Mental Health; Health and Human Services as the Minority Spokesperson; Insurance as the Minority Spokesperson; Licensed Activities; Local Government; Public Health.