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GOMB projects $927 million surplus this year, $2.4 billion FY28 budget hole

Friday, Nov 13, 2026 - Posted by Isabel Miller

* Press release…

Today, the Governor’s Office of Management and Budget (GOMB) released the annual Illinois Economic and Fiscal Policy Report, outlining the state’s five-year fiscal outlook and updated projections for fiscal year 2027.
While revenues are performing above expectations, the State continues to prepare for federal funding cuts and additional cost pressures under H.R. 1. To help address these pressures, Governor JB Pritzker proposes using a projected one-time fiscal year 2027 surplus to protect core services that help Illinoisans afford everyday necessities and strengthen the state’s long-term fiscal stability.

Revenue Forecast in FY2027

Following stronger revenue performance through the first four months of fiscal year 2027, GOMB has increased its General Funds revenue forecast by $1.079 billion above the enacted budget estimate. After accounting for updated expenditure projections, the state anticipates a $927 million surplus before proposed allocations and supplemental spending needs.

* Before anyone gets too attached to that surplus, a warning from the report…

This surplus is one-time, as out-year projections illustrate the expectation that the State will continue to address budgetary spending pressures that exceed revenue growth. As with surpluses seen in recent years, Illinois will again strategically deploy the funds – such as when surplus funds were used to pay down the bill backlog (reducing interest costs), paying off debts early, making additional payments to fund state pension debts, and setting aside funds for a ‘rainy day.’ Any increases to ongoing base spending will just amplify the additional budgetary pressure in fiscal year 2028 and beyond.

* Back to the press release…

Some recent revenue gains reflect the timing of tax payments, and the stronger-than-expected performance is anticipated to moderate over the remainder of the fiscal year. Corporate income tax collections have been particularly volatile since the passage of H.R. 1, and some recent collections may reflect payments originally expected in fiscal year 2026.

Preparing for Federal Funding Cuts from H.R. 1 and Future Needs

Federal cuts to food assistance and health care threaten to put additional pressure on household budgets while shifting costs onto states. The Governor proposes using the one-time surplus to prepare for future costs and strengthen the state’s ability to help working families, including items such as:

- Food Assistance: Set aside funds to support meeting future state matching requirements for the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP)
Disaster Response: Support Illinois communities facing more frequent severe weather by bolstering state funds amid lack of federal assistance from the Trump Administration
- Emergency Reserves: Replenish the Budget Reserve for Immediate Disbursement and Governmental Emergencies Fund (BRIDGE Fund) for unexpected costs the State might incur from the uncertainty created by the Trump Administration
- Bolstering Essential Services: Address potential supplemental budget needs, including additional funding for community programs serving a growing number of older Illinoisans

After accounting for the Governor’s proposed allocations, the fiscal year 2027 surplus is projected to total $199 million.

Maintaining Long-Term Fiscal Stability

This year’s projected surplus provides a one-time opportunity to prepare for future challenges and lower costs for working families. Illinois took a similar approach during and following the COVID-19 pandemic, using stronger-than-expected revenues to pay down outstanding bills and build reserves while maintaining and bolstering essential services. Spending pressures are expected to continue exceeding revenue growth in the years ahead.

Based on current revenue projections and estimated costs, Illinois faces a projected $2.4 billion budget gap for fiscal year 2028. The Governor’s fiscal year 2028 budget proposal in February will address that gap, continuing to double down on the administration’s work to address projected shortfalls through strong fiscal responsibility and leadership.

Under Governor Pritzker’s leadership, Illinois has earned 12 credit rating upgrades, enacted eight consecutive balanced budgets, and grown its Rainy Day Fund to more than $2.5 billion. The Governor remains committed to building on that progress while protecting investments that make education, health care, and everyday necessities more affordable for Illinois working families.

Read the full report here.

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Pritzker’s PAC goes 12–2

Friday, Nov 13, 2026 - Posted by Isabel Miller

* The Sun-Times late last month…

Gov. JB Pritzker’s Ready for the Fight PAC is sending $1.5 million to help Democrats win the Senate in Mississippi and Kansas — part of more than $40 million in spending the billionaire governor is doling out in the midterm elections and to Democratic causes to try to boost anti-Trump candidates and help Democrats win the House and Senate. […]

The PAC said it’s investing in races that “national Democrats have historically overlooked.” The latest spends follow the PAC’s advertising efforts targeting MAGA Republicans across the country, including House races in Texas, Arkansas, Alabama, New Mexico and Ohio.

* Democrats won 12 of the 14 races where Pritzker’s PAC got involved, according to a spokesperson. That includes three US Senate races in states Trump won by double digits two years ago. The latest win came Wednesday. AP…

It’s been nearly 150 years since a Black man has represented Deep South and deep red Mississippi in the U.S. Senate.

That changed Wednesday evening as Democrat Scott Colom was declared the winner over Republican incumbent Cindy Hyde-Smith, who had been endorsed by President Donald Trump. For many in the state and for Black Americans across the nation, Colom’s victory reflects the ambitions that were thwarted by generations of systemic oppression and violence.

* CNN…

In the final stretch, as Obama cut an ad for Colom, other Democrats started to pay attention. With some urging to do an end run around consultants who worried about nationalizing the race, Harris called Colom to offer to come campaign, and he accepted. […]

Former Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg soon followed. New York Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez connected with Colom in early October, and though they had a good conversation, people familiar with the call told CNN that a combination of her campaign schedule taking her elsewhere and some concerns about how a joint appearance would play for each of them kept her from coming. The progressive congresswoman did, however, write a $3,500 check to his campaign from her own account — the maximum allowed — and sent a fundraising email for him to raise more.

Then Illinois Gov. JB Pritzker, another potential 2028 presidential candidate who spent tens of millions of his own fortune on behalf of candidates across the country, jumped in with a previously undisclosed $1.4 million on two TV ads and additional $200,000 in calls and texts targeting Black voters, according to a person involved with the placement.

One Pritzker-funded PAC ad showed flies buzzing around cow dung and then around Hyde-Smith, highlighting possibly Hyde-Smith’s most infamous blunder: telling those concerned about the price of beef to “pick another protein.”

Pritzker’s PAC spent $1,386,000 total in Mississippi, including $1,186,000 for the two TV ads and $200,000 for get-out-the-vote calls and texts targeting Black voters.

Click here for that second tv ad.

In Kansas, which Trump won by 16 points two years ago, the PAC spent $508,500 on digital ads against Republican US Sen. Roger Marshall. Democrat Adam Hamilton won.

The PAC put another $244,000 into calls and texts targeting Black voters in South Carolina, where Democrat Annie Andrews defeated Republican Darlene Graham. Trump won that state by nearly 18 points.

The PAC also helped Democrats win Nevada’s governor’s race and eight US House contests: SC-01, TX-23, OH-07, AL-02, NH-01, MI-10, VA-01 and NM-02.

The two losses were close. Democrats fell short by 1.8 points in Arkansas’ 2nd District and 1.1 points in Tennessee’s 9th.

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Chicago CFO quits, says staying would ‘compromise my integrity’ (Updated)

Friday, Nov 13, 2026 - Posted by Isabel Miller

* Sun-Times…

The abrupt resignation on Friday of Mayor Brandon Johnson’s third chief financial officer in a year could trigger another drop in Chicago’s already shaky bond rating and scare investors away from the city’s bonds.

Ashlee Gabrysch’s departure sent shock waves through City Hall and beyond — her resignation comes in the middle of a budget stalemate, after just three months as CFO. Even more damaging than Gabrysch’s sudden exit is what she said on her way out the door.

A former Wall Street executive, Gabrysch issued a statement saying she was unwilling to compromise her financial integrity. She did not reveal what it was she was asked to do that would have damaged her reputation.

* Gabrysch’s full statement…

“As the City of Chicago’s Chief Financial Officer, there is nothing more important than my fiduciary duty to the City and its taxpayers. The Chief Financial Officer’s statements about city finances are not idle chatter: they are relied upon by investors, ratings agencies, City Council, and taxpayers. The CFO must act scrupulously to ensure they are always accurate and complete.

“Throughout my career, I have remained committed to upholding the highest standards of financial integrity and transparency, and in my short time as Chief Financial Officer, I have faithfully discharged this duty. It has become apparent, however, that to continue in this role would be to compromise my integrity and professional obligations. I therefore have concluded that I must step down from my role, and hereby tender my resignation.”

* The response from Johnson’s office. Crain’s…

“The city of Chicago is facing a serious budget crisis following decades of mismanagement. It is concerning that, during her short tenure, Ashlee was largely absent during critical periods of the City’s budget preparation process. Additionally, her decision to direct the City Treasurer to issue a $75 million payment without proper legal authority or following the required processes raises serious concerns,” the statement said.

It was not immediately clear what the payment is in reference to. But the City Council secured $75 million from the transfer of the city’s parking meter concession and directed it towards a one-time pension payment in 2026.

“Our administration made multiple attempts to meet with her to discuss this action and seek an explanation, including shortly before her public resignation,” the statement said.

“Those attempts went unresolved. Given the seriousness of these concerns, we will refer the matter to the City’s Office of Inspector General for independent review. We welcome a full review of the conduct at issue. Our administration takes its responsibility to protect taxpayer dollars, uphold the law, and ensure the responsible management of City finances seriously. We expect every City official to meet that standard,” the statement said.

* Some background from the Tribune…

Johnson’s budget team pegged next year’s budget gap at $882 million during the forecast deficit rollout in September. When Johnson formally introduced his budget last month, that number shrank to $662 million – a figure that the administration attributed to plans to borrow for the cost of police settlements.

With that number removed from the city’s deficit, Johnson claimed 76% of his gap-filling proposals were structural. Gabrysch disputed that figure during the first day of public budget hearings, saying those settlement costs were part of the deficit and that borrowing to cover it should be counted as a one-time gap-filling measure. With both in mind, she said structural solutions made up 56% of the mayor’s proposal.

“The 76% number comes from removing settlements and judgments from the denominator,” she said at the time. “I stick with the $882 (million) forecasted budget… that is my denominator.” […]

Johnson at the time denied any attempts by his administration to hide the ball. “Look, we were obviously incredibly transparent,” Johnson said when asked about the discrepancy.

* CBS Chicago…

A number of Johnson’s top aides have departed in the past year, including chief legal counsel Mary Richardson-Lowry, budget director Annette Guzman, public health commissioner Olusimbo Ige, police superintendent Larry Snelling and both the city’s preview CFO Jill Jaworski and her interim replacement, acting CFO Steven Mahr.

Alderman Bill Conway, who represents the city’s 34th Ward and serves as Finance Committee Vice Chair in the city council, released a statement calling for an immediate investigation into the resignation.

“In her resignation letter, Ms. Gabrysch wrote that the CFO’s statements must be ‘complete and accurate’ and that she is ‘not able to fulfill those obligations under the conditions in which I have been asked to serve,’” Conway’s statement says in part. “This is an obvious indication that she was asked by the Mayor’s Office to present false information.”

* Gabrysch’s response to the mayor’s statement…

Chi Mayor’s Office on resigning CFO Ashlee Gabrysh: she “acted without legal authority” by directing City Treasurer issue $75M payment before Nov. 2 legislation takes effect.

Gabrysh fires back to @fox32news

Acting CFO Belsky: assertionof untruthfulness is “incorrect” ⬇️ https://t.co/SCgYSUeBKc

— Brandon Pope TV (@BpopeTV) November 13, 2026

Gabrysch: “This effort by the administration to deflect from the serious issues at stake and attack those who attempt to hold them accountable is disappointing but not surprising. I stand by my statement and will continue to operate in accordance with my values and integrity.”

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Speaker Welch’s office hires outside law firm for $450K workplace culture review

Friday, Nov 13, 2026 - Posted by Isabel Miller

* The Chicago Tribune…

Embattled Illinois House Speaker Emanuel “Chris” Welch’s office has retained a Chicago-based employment law firm to conduct an evaluation of the workplace culture of the chamber’s Democratic majority “and provide actionable recommendations for improvement,” according to an email sent to Democratic House lawmakers and staffers, obtained by the Tribune. […]

The Prinz Law Firm entered into a six-month, $450,000 contract with the General Assembly on Sept. 21, state records show, and has been tasked with reviewing internal House policies, administering confidential surveys, conducting interviews with lawmakers and legislative staffers, and compiling a detailed report of findings and recommendations. […]

Welch’s office in August announced the formation of a working group, made up of only Democratic House lawmakers, to address workplace culture issues, including exploring ways to protect legislative employees from harassment. But the office’s engagement with the Prinz Law Firm is a separate effort, according to sources familiar with the situation, who were granted anonymity to discuss internal caucus matters. […]

Welch’s office said in the email that participation in the evaluation would be voluntary and the office would not know who had been chosen to participate. The email also said the firm’s final report would be released publicly, along with proposed steps to implement recommended changes.

22 Comments

Isabel’s morning briefing: Proposed federal rule could cost 225K Illinoisans SNAP benefits; Transit officials propose $5B budget; CPD rarely serves warrants to seize domestic abusers’ guns

Friday, Nov 13, 2026 - Posted by Isabel Miller

* ICYMI: Proposed SNAP changes could impact more than 200K Illinois residents. SJ-R…

* Gov. JB Pritzker has no public events scheduled today.

*** Isabel’s Top Picks ***

* WTTW | Transit Officials Outline ‘Significant Investment’ of $5B for 2027, Laying Groundwork for Major Changes: On the safety front, next year’s proposed budget includes more than $56 million for a Ride Safe incident reporting app (which is set to enter the pilot phase next week); creating an Office of Transit Safety and Experience; launching the transit ambassador program; and better coordination between law enforcement and social service providers.

* Sun-Times | Chicago police aren’t going after domestic abusers’ guns despite state law: Since the law took effect, Chicago police have gotten at least 91 Karina’s Law search warrants, according to documents obtained by the Chicago Sun-Times. Only three have been served. […] [Legal Aid Chicago lawyers ] say there also was another impediment to enforcing that part of the law — the Chicago police. Since May, a handful of Legal Aid Chicago clients have sought warrants that were directed to suburban law enforcement agencies. All of them have been served, Crawford says, “and guns have been recovered” during each search.

*** Statehouse News ***

* Center Square | Proposed change in farm estate tax has broad support: Illinois Farm Bureau Associate Director of State Legislation Mark Raney said farmers currently pay the estate tax on everything more than $4 million in value, which is easily exceeded by the average Illinois grain farm with 1,500 acres. “And that doesn’t include the value of any of your equipment, your trucks, the value of any livestock you may have harvested, corn or soy, doesn’t include barns, doesn’t include your house,” Raney told The Center Square.

* WAND | Illinois Senate could pass Home for Good plan during veto session: Roughly 15,000 people leave Illinois prisons each year, but the vast majority of those people are unable to find stable housing. The Home for Good plan calls for rental subsidies and wraparound services for returning residents. “Every time one person returns to prison, it costs taxpayers and society $200,000,” said Illinois Justice Project Director Ahmadou Dramé. “We spend $2.6 billion running our state’s prison system, and we have a ton of people there who are there because we didn’t set them up to succeed when they were released the first time, or the second time, or the third time, or however many times.”

* NBC Chicago | Christian Mitchell says he’s ready to be Illinois’ new lieutenant governor: “First of all, it’s to help the governor implement his agenda. I want to be a great governing partner for Gov. Pritzker. I want to make sure that I’m working every single day to make your life better. I think that when you look at what happened in the last couple weeks, the message that voters sent to people all across the country was: we need people who are focused on cost, chaos, and corruption? We want to make sure we’re raising your wages, lowering your costs. That our government is actually working for us,” Mitchell explained.

*** Chicago ***

* Sun-Times | Finalists for Chicago’s next top cop are all CPD insiders: First Deputy Supt. Antoinette Ursitti, Chief of Community Policing Angel Novalez and Counterterrorism Chief Christopher Papaioannou were chosen as the finalists Thursday following a nationwide search. If selected, Ursitti would be the first woman to lead the police department.

* Sun-Times | Chicago mayoral candidates make their pitches — and take aim at Brandon Johnson: Notably absent was incumbent Mayor Brandon Johnson, who was at a community budget town hall in Uptown at the time. So was Illinois Secretary of State Alexi Giannoulias, who has been a fundraising powerhouse as his focus shifted to a run for mayor. Chicago Public Schools was an early point of contention, with former state counsel Bill Quinlan taking the first shot at Johnson while suggesting closing under-enrolled schools and renovating or building new ones to operate more like “rec centers.”

* Sun-Times | Why is Chicago alderman the job few want? In February, 11 ward races will be uncontested: Chicago is closer than ever to the strong Council, weak mayor form of government the city code intended. And yet, only 140 candidates filed to run for City Council seats. That’s down from 210 candidates filing nominating petitions to run for alderperson in 2023, 174 of whom ultimately survived petition challenges.

* Tribune | Plastic waste in the Great Lakes could be coming from as far as 120 miles away, study shows: Looking to follow the movement of water bottles and other floating throwaways, they tossed dozens of plastic smoothie shakers into rivers across the United States and Canada, including stretches of the Chicago River. The researchers equipped each of the shakers with a small GPS device to track where they ended up. Computer modeling of the results suggests half of the plastic bottles washing into the Great Lakes and oceans every year come from at least 10 miles and up to 120 miles away, the scientists reported.

* Block Club | Will The City Extend Its Divvy Contract? Council To Consider Future Of Bike Rentals In Chicago: In a letter to the council’s Pedestrian and Traffic Safety Committee, the groups called for making Divvy more affordable, expanding its bike fleet and station network, improving street safety, sustaining local and union jobs and maintaining city oversight through the Department of Transportation. The contract extension is expected to go before the committee Friday. Alderpeople deferred voting on the measure last month after pushback from Divvy competitor Lime.

*** Cook County and Suburbs ***

* Daily Southtown | Will County assigns data center moratorium, Flock camera ban for discussion: Ortiz asked for a resolution on license plate reader cameras that would prohibit automated license plate reader systems, such as Flock cameras, on property owned or controlled by Will County and within county highway rights of way. Municipalities could still use the cameras on their own properties. Ortiz also asked for a temporary moratorium on data centers so their environmental effects can be studied if a project were to come before the County Board. According to the board’s rules, Ortiz’s requests were given to the Executive Committee to assign them for discussion. A vote to ban Flock cameras or data centers was not taken.

* Tribune | Illinois Holocaust Museum reopens with a reimagined footprint and a new reflection room: After an 18-month renovation, the Illinois Holocaust Museum and Education Center in Skokie reopened to the public Wednesday with a new reflection room and renewed relevance. The $10 million renovation, which began in July 2025, has enlarged the lobby and added the reflection room to allow visitors a respite from the Zev & Shifra Karkomi Holocaust Exhibition, its permanent exhibition.

* Evanston Roundtable | Endeavor nurses to hold union votes in December, with two unions on the ballot: Registered nurses at four suburban hospitals run by Endeavor Health, including Evanston Hospital at 2650 Ridge Ave., are tentatively scheduled to vote on unionizing in mid-December, with conflict building between two competing unions over who could represent more than 2,400 employees across the facilities.

* Daily Herald | No sidewalks yet, but Barrington addressing safety concerns near school: The residents approached the village board recently, saying a stretch of Bryant Avenue has become dangerous for students walking to and from nearby Roslyn Road Elementary School. Bryant has no sidewalks between Northwest Highway and Roslyn Road. Deputy Village Manager Marie Hansen said sidewalk installation there is included in the village’s long-range improvement plan and will be reviewed as the village moves forward with capital work.

*** Downstate ***

* WGLT | McLean County Board approves $150 million budget, lowers tax rate: The budget will lower the county’s property tax rate to its lowest level in 20 years, largely due to a 6.72% increase in the county’s equalized assessed valuation. The tax rate will drop from $0.83 to $0.81 per $100 assessed valuation, amounting to a decrease of $15.86 for the owner of a $255,000 home. However, because of the increases in valuation, some homeowners may not see a decrease in their actual county tax bill.

* WCBU | Peoria City Council votes to allow drive-through, curbside cannabis sales: The Peoria City Council on Tuesday voted to allow both options for medical and recreational dispensaries, following Illinois’ updated state law governing marijuana sales. “We have to navigate this new social norm that is recreational marijuana, and I know that there still is a stigma to that and I’m not naive to it,” said council member Andre Allen. “But I think when you offer the drive-through and the curbside pickup offering of it, you give a level of discretion for consumers.”

* STLPR | Illinois health officials prep to transfer patients from metro-east hospital: Illinois regulators are preparing to potentially transfer patients out of Gateway Regional Medical Center in Granite City and ambulances are being sent to other hospitals. The hospital is still open, but the Illinois Department of Public Health confirmed Gateway and another medical center owned by the same company are on bypass status due to “staffing instability.”

* WAND | Decatur City Council to consider agreement for underground natural gas pipeline: The City of Decatur said in a Facebook post Thursday that Tallgrass is developing an underground pipeline that, if approved, would run 16 miles through Macon County. This would connect the company’s existing Rockies Express Pipeline to industrial facilities in Decatur. According to the City, a small section of the pipeline would be installed 120 feet below Lake Decatur, with drilling sites located away from the shoreline.

*** National ***

* AP | Microsoft reports progress as it works to recover email and other services in a global outage: The outage, which affected a wide range of Microsoft 365 services including Outlook, Teams and AI assistant Copilot, left many complaining they couldn’t access their emails. Microsoft indicated that it was making some headway as it tried to restore services, in fresh updates posted Friday on social media.

* NYT | A New Opera About Lincoln Pulls the Met Into the YouTube Era: A solution was found. The final performance of “Lincoln,” on Saturday, will be livestreamed on the Met’s YouTube channel, which has 336,000 subscribers and is typically used for promotion. (It will be available through Nov. 18.) This is the first time the Met has streamed an entire opera on YouTube, a move that could potentially transform the way its productions are made available to a wider audience, particularly new operagoers and those who do not live in New York.

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Good morning!

Friday, Nov 13, 2026 - Posted by Isabel Miller

* Mississippi John Hurt…

* What’s going on?…

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