Question of the day
Tuesday, Mar 1, 2016 - Posted by Rich Miller
* Oy…
Legislative analysts predict that Illinois revenue will grow only by $200 million this year — less than 1 percent.
The bipartisan Commission on Government Forecasting and Accountability’s figure released Tuesday is significantly lower than Gov. Bruce Rauner’s prediction. A commission report says the Republican governor counts $925 million in revenue which “can be described in varying degrees from being unlikely to uncertain.” […]
The report says the administration counts on $500 million in federal Medicaid reimbursement under an obsolete formula, $200 million from a possibly complex sale of the Thompson Center state office building in Chicago; and sweeping the state’s “rainy day” fund of $275 million.
* From the full report…
GOMB assumes $500 million from the old “spend and reimburse” methodology of Medicare premiums rather than the “off-set” method which has been in effect for a number of fiscal years. At this time, it seems unlikely the old method will be applied again. It should be noted that on a budgetary basis the two methods impact the same—while we get less back under the “off-set” method, we also spend less in a similar amount.
GOMB assumes the receipt of $200 million from the sale of the Thompson Center. History may be a guide in terms of counting on the sale of this property. It may take some time for such a transaction to occur, if at all.
GOMB assumes a one-time non-repayable sweep of the balance in the Budget Stabilization Fund, valued at $275 million. Statutory changes would be required to eliminate repayment provisions.
GOMB assumes in their estimate of “other sources” a change in the distribution of the hotel tax whereby approximately $50 million that normally gets deposited into GRF, instead is directed to the Tourism Promotion Fund. Statutory changes are necessary to enact that proposed change.
* The Question: How should Illinois spend this projected $200 million in shiny, new revenues?
Snark is heavily encouraged, of course.
- 47th Ward - Tuesday, Mar 1, 16 @ 3:34 pm:
Two words: lottery tickets.
- VanillaMan - Tuesday, Mar 1, 16 @ 3:34 pm:
Everyone gets free Wi-Fi for two months so we can build that smart state with an Internet of things!
- AC - Tuesday, Mar 1, 16 @ 3:35 pm:
A $15 per person voucher for dairy products, so we can truly be in “deep yogurt”.
- Beaner - Tuesday, Mar 1, 16 @ 3:35 pm:
The Rauner Wine Institute and Viticulture Center in Charleston Illinois should receive all the money through the Department of Economic Opportunity. Being a vital entrepreneur spirited non-for-profit educational enterprise, only operated for the benefit of more good, there will be no need for any oversight or pesky audits.
- 47th Ward - Tuesday, Mar 1, 16 @ 3:37 pm:
$200 million might be enough to turn CSU and Eastern into prisons. Just put up some razor wire around the perimeter, bars on the dorm windows, a guard tower in Old Main. Shouldn’t be too hard to do.
- AC - Tuesday, Mar 1, 16 @ 3:37 pm:
Warning signs at every entrance to the state telling anyone who wants to be in a place with a functional government to “turnaround”.
- Ahoy! - Tuesday, Mar 1, 16 @ 3:38 pm:
Illinois is the 21st state in the union. Have the governor take the $200 million to the nearest Trump casino and put it all on 21. If we win, it’s about 7.2 billion and our budget problem is solved for a year. If we lose, we wouldn’t have a budget to actually spend the money anyway, so no big deal.
- Downstate - Tuesday, Mar 1, 16 @ 3:39 pm:
Put it all into the Illinois State Museum. Create a shiny showpiece that we can then franchise to other states. And launch our IPO!
- 47th Ward - Tuesday, Mar 1, 16 @ 3:40 pm:
Give it all to Griff and let him turn it into a fortune at Citadel…oh, wait. Nevermind.
- Just saying... - Tuesday, Mar 1, 16 @ 3:40 pm:
Pay back Rauner for the money he has spent on his gubernatorial campaign and subsequent special interest and legislative campaigns. It’s close to the $200 million. Then tell him in Donald Trump words…YOU’RE FIRED! At least then we can say we got a positive rate of return on our investment.
- AC - Tuesday, Mar 1, 16 @ 3:41 pm:
Expansion of the Roland Burris tomb.
- AC - Tuesday, Mar 1, 16 @ 3:43 pm:
A grant to resurrect Trump University as a replacement for all the insolvent public universities.
- Old Shepherd - Tuesday, Mar 1, 16 @ 3:44 pm:
Embroidered Carhartt coats that say, “I supported the Turnaround Agenda and all I got was this lousy coat.”
- JS Mill - Tuesday, Mar 1, 16 @ 3:46 pm:
social service agencies.
- 47th Ward - Tuesday, Mar 1, 16 @ 3:48 pm:
12 million “I’m with stupid –>” tee-shirts.
- walker - Tuesday, Mar 1, 16 @ 3:48 pm:
Prove those doofuses who call government a Ponzi-scheme correct.
- OurMagician - Tuesday, Mar 1, 16 @ 3:49 pm:
Split between the Illinois Arts Council and the group building the statues of the 3 Governors from Kankakee.
- JS Mill - Tuesday, Mar 1, 16 @ 3:50 pm:
Sorry, I gave a serious response to a question that was seeking comedy. I just can’t though, apologies to everyone. I constantly have to be the grim reaper, that is all that thousands of people in my district know of me for the last three years. That is not who I am or want to be. I cannot imagine what some of the people working for or leading these social service agencies must be going through. Most of us are not numbers people, we get into these positions to do good things, not hack away at budgets and organizations until there is nothing left. I am too depressed to think of something funny.
I am truly sorry about that.
- X-prof - Tuesday, Mar 1, 16 @ 3:51 pm:
Two “I Survived the Rauner Recession” tee-shirts for all the little people (choice of “Hang in there!” or “I’m not cranky” on the back).
- btowntruth - Tuesday, Mar 1, 16 @ 3:54 pm:
Vouchers for your choice of Dannon or Yoplait yogurts.
And a free copy of Moby Dick autographed by Governor Ahab.
- Oswego Willy - Tuesday, Mar 1, 16 @ 3:56 pm:
Changing the signage and branding at every state university left in existence to…
Rauner University, at “X”…
Then those places won’t have to worry about funding anymore.
$200 million should cover it.
- illini - Tuesday, Mar 1, 16 @ 3:56 pm:
JSMILL - I’m with you, if it is not “too little too late”.
- Precinct Captain - Tuesday, Mar 1, 16 @ 4:00 pm:
A rocket to blast Rauner and the Superstars to Mars.
- Oswego Willy - Tuesday, Mar 1, 16 @ 4:01 pm:
Purchase the production rights of “Dad’s Home State”, including any proprietary rights of any of the characters for other productions in the future.
I’ll give up the rights for $200 million
- AC - Tuesday, Mar 1, 16 @ 4:02 pm:
A monument to the lost letter ‘G’
- burbanite - Tuesday, Mar 1, 16 @ 4:03 pm:
Tuition for the Governor to go to Governin’ school and for a first edition copy of “How to win friends and influence people”.
- Beaner - Tuesday, Mar 1, 16 @ 4:05 pm:
Buy the Governor one of those email things so he can share Cat videos with his wine club buddies.
- How Ironic - Tuesday, Mar 1, 16 @ 4:05 pm:
FREE MOTORCYCLE TRAINING CLASSES FOR THE MASSES!!!!!!!
wait…we already to that….
- Anon - Tuesday, Mar 1, 16 @ 4:06 pm:
Pay raises for the Legislature, a salary for the Governor, and a one-time bonus for all state employees.
- Anonymous - Tuesday, Mar 1, 16 @ 4:10 pm:
Lots of Forever Stamps for all agencies.
- How Ironic - Tuesday, Mar 1, 16 @ 4:11 pm:
How much are clues? I think the administration is in desperate need for one.
- Wensicia - Tuesday, Mar 1, 16 @ 4:14 pm:
Buy the Tribune Tower and turn it into a shelter for the homeless and the mentally/developmentally disabled.
Yeah, I know it’s valued at $100 million, but doesn’t this state always pay double for what something’s actually worth?
- siriusly - Tuesday, Mar 1, 16 @ 4:14 pm:
Hi-tech equipment to make all the public universities “Spy Proof”
- RNUG - Tuesday, Mar 1, 16 @ 4:18 pm:
Buy Rich out of Cap Fax so Rauner’s actions can go undocumented …
- siriusly - Tuesday, Mar 1, 16 @ 4:19 pm:
U Turn signs placed on all the roads leading into Illinois. TURN AROUND you’re going the wrong way. Bruce Rauner, Governor
“How do they which way we’re going?”
- Rabid - Tuesday, Mar 1, 16 @ 4:19 pm:
Golden parachute early retirement for the govenor
- RNUG - Tuesday, Mar 1, 16 @ 4:20 pm:
Give $1 and an ‘Education is Important’ bookmark to every student.
- siriusly - Tuesday, Mar 1, 16 @ 4:21 pm:
Update all the state infrastructure so that websites will all have fancy new “Word Clouds”
Yes Rich, we remember.
- Oswego Willy - Tuesday, Mar 1, 16 @ 4:21 pm:
Defensive products to stave off Hurricanes
- Rich Miller - Tuesday, Mar 1, 16 @ 4:24 pm:
===Yes Rich, we remember.===
This is why we can’t have nice things.
- sal-says - Tuesday, Mar 1, 16 @ 4:26 pm:
No /s
$200M seems like a fair price to buy raunner out of his non-governorship. OR maybe enough to get whats needed to get him recalled. A fair price indeed.
- Anonymous - Tuesday, Mar 1, 16 @ 4:30 pm:
==Legislative analysts predict that Illinois revenue will grow only by…less than 1 percent.”
Start a Kickstarter campaign to generate the remaining 500K, give Rauner his promised 1.4%, and put the TA out of it’s (and our) misery.
- Albany Park Patriot - Tuesday, Mar 1, 16 @ 4:31 pm:
Diana Rauner needs a DEPUTY chief of staff, too.
- GA Watcher - Tuesday, Mar 1, 16 @ 4:31 pm:
The Governor should bring a couple more Super Stars onto his staff and/or cabinet. You can never have enough Superstars!
- Huh? - Tuesday, Mar 1, 16 @ 4:38 pm:
I’d like a new deck, a new cut and a new shuffle.
- BBG - Tuesday, Mar 1, 16 @ 4:42 pm:
… a brain, a heart and a little humility too!
- Bigtwich - Tuesday, Mar 1, 16 @ 4:48 pm:
Attorney’s fees.
- Mama - Tuesday, Mar 1, 16 @ 4:59 pm:
Give the poor state workers a raise!
- illini - Tuesday, Mar 1, 16 @ 5:02 pm:
SalSays - great idea, but do you realy want Slip and Sue to replace him?
- Stumpy's bunker - Tuesday, Mar 1, 16 @ 5:10 pm:
Wine club comp’s for “deserving” GOP legislators who have learned proper goose-stepping.
- allknowingmasterofracoondom - Tuesday, Mar 1, 16 @ 5:20 pm:
A far away vacation island to send all the democrats who flushed this state down the drain. With special all inclusive rates for union bosses.
- Gone, but not forgotten - Tuesday, Mar 1, 16 @ 5:28 pm:
YOU get a Carhartt — YOU get a Carhartt — YOU get a Carhartt — and on and on until the $200 mil is exhausted –
- @MisterJayEm - Tuesday, Mar 1, 16 @ 5:32 pm:
“How should Illinois spend this projected $200 million in shiny, new revenues?”
A special prosecutor.
– MrJM
- Annonin' - Tuesday, Mar 1, 16 @ 5:46 pm:
How about an invite to John Flan and Jerry Sterner to sort this out….tee hee
- Judgment Day - Tuesday, Mar 1, 16 @ 6:57 pm:
01 Build all new schools in Mike Madigan’s district.
02 An enclosed baseball stadium for the White Sox to take into account their anticipated vast increase in attendance.
- RabidI - Tuesday, Mar 1, 16 @ 7:21 pm:
Free fishing licenses for residents
- Anonymous - Tuesday, Mar 1, 16 @ 7:22 pm:
“Fire Madigan” bumper stickers of course
- Arthur Andersen - Tuesday, Mar 1, 16 @ 7:54 pm:
Annonin’ they will spend half the $$ to tell you to “sell bonds.”
Let’s build a nice little dirt racin’ track instead.
- Anonymous - Tuesday, Mar 1, 16 @ 8:02 pm:
–Buy Rich out of Cap Fax so Rauner’s actions can go undocumented …–
Don’t joke.
JHC Almighty, don’t give them any ideas.
Seriously. The Bustout King has friends.
Like Griff.
For crying out loud, Gov. Geraci’s poor friend Ferro got Trib Publishing — including Zell’s $8 billion prize of the LA Times — for $44 million.
- Blue dog dem - Tuesday, Mar 1, 16 @ 9:00 pm:
I would just give it to Mondelez. All $200 mil. If that’s not enough , make the Oreo the state cookie.
- Michelle Flaherty - Tuesday, Mar 1, 16 @ 10:29 pm:
Give it to Proft. At least someone will have fun with it.
- Rabid - Tuesday, Mar 1, 16 @ 10:48 pm:
Springfield monorail
- justacitizen - Tuesday, Mar 1, 16 @ 10:57 pm:
$15 to each of IL approximate 13 million citizens for the “inconvenience” caused by the budget impasse
- Anonymous - Wednesday, Mar 2, 16 @ 6:55 am:
An 8×10 glossy photo of Bruce and Diana for every home with the words “Bruce has no social agenda” printed on the bottom of the photo.
- downstate commissioner - Wednesday, Mar 2, 16 @ 8:34 am:
Sorry this is late- A BIG statue of Bruce Rauner, or maybe a whole bunch of them- could put them up wherever a charitable organization or school has been put out of business by Rauner.