When the General Assembly adjourned for the spring just before 5am on June 1, Illinois taxpayers were left with another record-breaking state budget, but very little relief from the high costs they face every day.
Across the Metro East, the conversations I have with constituents are remarkably consistent. Families are paying more for groceries, housing, electricity, insurance, and property taxes. Small business owners are working to keep up with rising operating costs. Seniors on fixed incomes are wondering how much longer they can afford to stay in the homes they’ve spent decades paying off. At a time when affordability is the number one concern for so many Illinoisans, this year’s state budget represented a missed opportunity to address that.
Instead of prioritizing tax relief and fiscal discipline, the state adopted a $56 billion budget, the largest in Illinois history. State spending has grown by nearly 40 percent since Governor Pritzker took office, yet many of the financial pressures facing working families have only intensified. Rather than asking taxpayers to shoulder even more, state government should be asking whether record spending is producing record results.
Unfortunately, this budget continues to rely on approximately $800 million in new taxes, fees, fund sweeps, and other revenue enhancements to support another year of increased spending. Families in Illinois continue to pay some of the highest state and local taxes in the nation, yet property tax relief remains elusive. Instead of returning money to taxpayers, the budget swept approximately $150 million in surplus sales tax revenue generated by higher gas prices into new government spending rather than providing relief to Illinois drivers. Those decisions reflect priorities, and I believe Illinois families deserved different ones.
Just as concerning as the budget itself was the process used to pass it. Nearly 3,700 pages were pushed through at 3 a.m. on June 1, with no time for lawmakers or the public to actually read what was in it. During those late-night negotiations, the majority party accidentally appropriated a $500,250,000,000 appropriation to a Chicago-based organization, and no one caught the mistake before the House and Senate voted. The Illinois General Assembly voted on a state budget that contained a $500 billion error. If that doesn’t demonstrate what’s wrong with the way Springfield passes budgets, I don’t know what does. When decisions this big are rushed through behind closed doors, in the wee hours of the morning, it raises real questions about transparency and accountability in the government process.
Even with record spending, many of the state’s most important responsibilities remain unfinished. School transportation reimbursements continue to be significantly underfunded, shifting costs to local school districts and, ultimately, local property taxpayers. Families across downstate Illinois are also facing dramatically higher electricity costs, placing additional strain on household budgets that are already stretched thin. If Illinois can afford another record budget, it should also be able to meet its core obligations and provide relief to the taxpayers who make that spending possible.
Responsible budgeting isn’t about spending the most money possible, it’s about making thoughtful decisions that reflect the priorities of the people we serve. Families expect government to exercise the same discipline they practice around their own kitchen tables.
Throughout this legislative session, I remained focused on practical, bipartisan solutions that make a difference close to home. I was proud to pass legislation supporting veterans, increasing transparency in government, strengthening protections for nursing home residents, improving mental health awareness through the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline, and helping local governments better serve their communities. Those bills demonstrate that progress is possible when we focus on solving problems rather than simply growing government.
Illinois families deserve a state government that recognizes the financial pressures they’re under and responds accordingly. They deserve a budget that reflects fiscal responsibility and a commitment to making Illinois a more affordable place to live, work, and raise a family. That should be our focus, not simply setting another spending record.
