Rockford Sun

Illinois is facing a projected $267 million deficit in its fiscal 2026 budget, according to new estimates from the Governor’s Office of Management and Budget (GOMB). The report also indicates that if current trends continue, the deficit could grow to $2.2 billion by fiscal year 2027.

Governor JB Pritzker has increased state spending by nearly 40 percent since taking office, leading to historically high budget levels. This increase in spending comes despite concerns raised by Republican lawmakers about the sustainability of such growth.

State Senator Dave Syverson commented on the situation: “Think about this: Illinois is taking in record amounts of income taxes, sales taxes, gaming taxes, and other revenues, and that still was not enough money for the ruling party in Illinois,” Syverson said. “Then, to further feed their spending, they added hundreds of millions in new taxes and fees on taxpayers just in the last year. Now they are telling you that is still not enough for them and they need more? It has never been more clear that Illinois has a spending problem, not a revenue problem.”

Syverson has served as a Republican member of the Illinois State Senate representing the 35th District since his election in 1993, when he succeeded Christine J. Johnson.