New report questions Illinois’ increased spending, warns of trouble ahead

A nonprofit group that promotes responsible government spending says Illinois could face budget problems down the road because of their use of one-time revenue created by federal COVID-19 money for increased, long-term spending. The report echoes the warnings that Senator Sue Rezin made prior to the budget being passed earlier this spring.

Working with the Volcker Alliance, Beverly Bunch, a professor at the University of Illinois Springfield’s School of Public Management and Policy, warns in a report that states must take care in how they use one-time money and not earmark it for on-going expenses.

The Fiscal Year 2023 budget, signed by Gov. JB Pritzker, increases operational government spending by $2.8 billion over Fiscal Year 2022 spending.

Sen. Rezin questions how the state expects to pay for the nearly $3 billion in increased spending next year when revenues go back down to normal levels and says it’s this kind of irresponsible action that has led Illinois to the dire fiscal situation it has faced for years.

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