Without A Budget, Illinois' Spending — And Deficit — Balloon
From the Springfield State Journal-Register
Illinois Republicans and Democrats alike wailed when the Democratic-controlled legislature approved a state budget last year that was more than $1 billion out of balance. Then-gubernatorial candidate Bruce Rauner called the spending plan "phony," while the party in power acknowledged it was "incomplete" and riddled with gimmicks.
But the state is now on course to dig itself a far greater budget hole through either unwillingness or inability to act on the current fiscal year's budget. One estimate puts the deficit at $5 billion, thanks to court- and statute-mandated spending already underway at levels that both sides say are unsustainable.
Lawmakers say they're not even sure how much money is going out the door. They agree that the situation is leading Illinois — already billions in debt — to rack up more. They acknowledge that balancing the budget gets more difficult with each passing day. Yet, like most everything else at the state Capitol these days, they're split along party lines as to who's to blame and how to fix it.
The effect on residents and businesses is clear: There'll be a dramatic increase in what the state will eventually have to raise in taxes, cut in spending — or both, said Laurence Msall, president of the Civic Federation, a nonpartisan research organization.
"This is an incremental path down the road of fiscal recklessness and irresponsibility," Msall said.
At the center of the problem is a disagreement between the Republican governor and Democrats over what should be included in the budget.
Read more in our daily News Update...
From the Springfield State Journal-Register
Illinois Republicans and Democrats alike wailed when the Democratic-controlled legislature approved a state budget last year that was more than $1 billion out of balance. Then-gubernatorial candidate Bruce Rauner called the spending plan "phony," while the party in power acknowledged it was "incomplete" and riddled with gimmicks.
But the state is now on course to dig itself a far greater budget hole through either unwillingness or inability to act on the current fiscal year's budget. One estimate puts the deficit at $5 billion, thanks to court- and statute-mandated spending already underway at levels that both sides say are unsustainable.
Lawmakers say they're not even sure how much money is going out the door. They agree that the situation is leading Illinois — already billions in debt — to rack up more. They acknowledge that balancing the budget gets more difficult with each passing day. Yet, like most everything else at the state Capitol these days, they're split along party lines as to who's to blame and how to fix it.
The effect on residents and businesses is clear: There'll be a dramatic increase in what the state will eventually have to raise in taxes, cut in spending — or both, said Laurence Msall, president of the Civic Federation, a nonpartisan research organization.
"This is an incremental path down the road of fiscal recklessness and irresponsibility," Msall said.
At the center of the problem is a disagreement between the Republican governor and Democrats over what should be included in the budget.
Read more in our daily News Update...