(The Center Square) – When legislators return to the Illinois State Capitol Tuesday, they’ll have just 11 days before the deadline to pass an annual plan on how to spend taxpayers’ money.
Gov. J.B. Pritzker proposed his budget of nearly $55 billion in February. If approved, that’d be the most expensive spending plan in state history. Despite revenue projections coming in lower than anticipated, Pritzker said last week they already plan a tight budget.
“I’m just saying, you know, we’ll get there,” Pritzker said at an unrelated event. “Nobody likes to have to, you know, tighten the belt and make it all work, but our tightening is, I think, reasonable.”
State Rep. Jed Davis, R-Yorkville, and others in the minority caucus have proposed their own spending plan, coming in at $44 billion.
“I know that if we can work together from far left, the far right, and actually work for the people of Illinois, man, everyone will win and we can shrink government without any noticeable change other than more money in your pocket,” Davis told The Center Square.
With just two legislative weeks left on the spring session calendar, the details of Illinois’ tax and spend plan have yet to be fully revealed.
Friday, state Rep. Jennifer Sanalitro, R-Hannover Park, warned her colleagues on the House floor against tax increases.
“We need to say no to this service tax hike and start making responsible choices,” Sanalitro said. “Let’s put taxpayers first, stop growing government and start defending the people we represent. They demand it.”
Despite a push from some Democrats in the majority caucus for progressive revenue, last week, Pritzker indicated there won’t be a need for tax increases.
“We’d all like to have more resources, but I think the funding is there to do the things that we absolutely must do,” Pritzker said.
Legislators return Tuesday and are scheduled through Friday. They are then scheduled to return the Tuesday after Memorial Day through Saturday, May 31.
