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State Rep. David McSweeney, a Republican from Barrington Hills, said he’s skeptical. “This budget is a joke. More of the same. Higher taxes. More spending. That’s the Pritzker plan.”
* The SJ-R had a different take…
It took years for Illinois’ fiscal situation to get as terrible as it is. It will take time to dig out of it too.
That message clearly came through during Gov. J.B. Pritzker’s first budget address Wednesday. Pritzker did not try to sugarcoat the state of Illinois’ financial challenges during his address: $3.2 billion budget deficit, $15 billion debt in unpaid bills, $133.5 billion unfunded pension liability. We are cautious and concerned about some of the ideas he presented. Yet we found Pritzker’s speech to be a realistic, but still optimistic, message from the person who starts off the annual state budget process.
* Tribune…
He proposes spending an additional $630 million on education, including more money for early childhood programs, elementary and secondary education, and public universities and community colleges. He also plans $542 million in added spending on social services, including money to provide child care assistance for the parents of 10,000 more children and hire 126 more child welfare workers at the Department of Children and Family Services.
K-12 education would also see a $5 million boost to career and technical education, $2 million in funding for an Advanced Placement low-income test fee waiver program, and $250,000 in added educator misconduct investigation funding.
Early intervention programming would see a $7 million increase, and the federal preschool birth-5 grant will be allotted $3.8 billion.
Mark Jontry, president of the Illinois Association of Regional Superintendents, said the group was pleased to see more money invested in education, but will emphasize alternative education going forward.
“I think we’re a little disappointed that we’re flat-funded with our alternative programs,” he said. “We’re going to want to continue to have conversations with the governor’s office around trying to put additional dollars into those programs, because it is a population with some real needs and we’ve been held level while our costs to serve those kids continue to escalate.”
* News-Gazette…
The governor proposed a 5 percent increase for public universities and community colleges in fiscal 2020, which would boost the UI’s general operating funds by 5 percent, or $26.8 million, to $621.4 million, officials said Wednesday.
The UI had requested an increase of 16.5 percent, or almost $98 million more, but President Tim Killeen, who was in Springfield for the budget message, wasn’t complaining.
“We’re really happy to see the resolute attention to an investment strategy in higher education,” Killeen told News-Gazette Media on Wednesday. “It’s turning the tide after 20 years of less favorable budgets.” […]
On scholarships, Pritzker said he would expand the pool of matching funds for the new “Aim High” merit-based scholarship program to $35 million next year, up from the current $25 million. And he would expand funding for the Monetary Award Program’s need-based grants by $50 million.
“There’s still a gap there for what is really needed for socioeconomically disadvantaged students,” Killeen said, “but it’s great to see it going in this direction.”
* Pantagraph…
Pritzker’s call for an increase in income eligibility for the Child Care Assistance Program would help local families who struggle to make ends meet because they don’t qualify for assistance but can’t afford child care, German said.
“While we are hopeful about the change in the minimum wage and the positive effect it will have in our state, we do have concerns there was no mention about adjusting reimbursement rates to help offset the substantial increase in program costs,” German said.
* SJ-R…
* $100 million for early childhood grants
* $30 million to provide child care assistance to more families
* $375 million more to implement the revised school funding formula
* $5 million more for career and technical education
* $50 million more for the Monetary Award Program for college students
* $52.2 million increase for public universities and $13.9 million for community colleges.
* $85 million in state funding to help human services agencies cover the minimum wage increase.
* Adds 126 direct service staff for the Department of Children and Family Services at a cost of $9.8 million.
* Adds $20.6 million to open a 200-bed Chicago Veterans’ Home that has sat empty since it was built.
* Funds two state police cadet classes of 100 people each for $7.6 million.
* Contains $5 million to implement the new state gun dealer certification law.
posted by Rich Miller
Thursday, Feb 21, 19 @ 10:02 am
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Previous Post: A quick look at Pritzker’s new revenue streams
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The priorities are in the right place, but it will take a long time to recover from Rauner’s willful squeeze-the-beast destruction.
Comment by wordslinger Thursday, Feb 21, 19 @ 10:09 am
That $630 million includes the annual K-12 increase that passed in the new formula, right? It’s not in addition to it?
Comment by Perrid Thursday, Feb 21, 19 @ 10:10 am
McSweeney is still talking about “pension reform” too, there’s a real joke.
Comment by Anonymous Thursday, Feb 21, 19 @ 10:11 am
All these people were silent when Rauner was in office.
Comment by A 400lb. Guy on a bed Thursday, Feb 21, 19 @ 10:17 am
More spending with.. not enough revenue. It’s possible there might be enough revenue in a couple of years after a progressive income tax, no recession, and population growth. Those are a lot of big ifs. It’s time for cutbacks, Illinois has already spent money it didn’t have.
Comment by Steve Thursday, Feb 21, 19 @ 10:21 am
=That $630 million includes the annual K-12 increase that passed in the new formula, right? It’s not in addition to it?=
There is an extra $25 million for the new formula (was $350) so it looks like it is mainly an add above previous numbers.
Comment by JS Mill Thursday, Feb 21, 19 @ 10:22 am
It will take a decade to offset Rauner and longer to be out of the woods entirely.
The higher education commitment is great, now there needs to be a commitment to revamping the structure to save all the institutions.
Comment by Oswego Willy Thursday, Feb 21, 19 @ 10:23 am
=It’s time for cutbacks, Illinois has already spent money it didn’t have.=
They are looking at revenue as well.
Maybe pause your broken record and check the election results?
Comment by JS Mill Thursday, Feb 21, 19 @ 10:25 am
==It’s time for cutbacks, Illinois has already spent money it didn’t have==
Fascinating. Maybe pair that with some tax cuts for the job creators?
You better get on the horn with the governor’s office him and alert him to these pro-growth strategies.
Comment by PJ Thursday, Feb 21, 19 @ 10:26 am
==This budget is a joke.==
As opposed to a 4.6 billion line item that reads “working together on a grand bargain”?
Comment by Jocko Thursday, Feb 21, 19 @ 10:26 am
“$375 million more to implement the revised school funding formula”
Hooray. That means all the school districts get to fight each other again over the $50 million property tax relief grant scraps.
Comment by City Zen Thursday, Feb 21, 19 @ 10:30 am
No one will be able to refer to Gov. Kick the Can as being a fiscal conservative. But you couldn’t call the last guy one either.
Being the simpleton that I am, I would have preferred a freeze in state spending until we address revenue. But hey, JB was unanimously elected on the promises of increased spending. Newly elected Governors get to own.
Comment by Blue Dog Dem Thursday, Feb 21, 19 @ 10:30 am
=Hooray. That means all the school districts get to fight each other again over the $50 million property tax relief grant scraps.=
That little legislative ad on is a farce, but it lets them say they did something about property taxes when election time comes back around.
Comment by JS Mill Thursday, Feb 21, 19 @ 10:33 am
Facts are stubborn things. Illinois is spending more money than it has. The budget has increased greater than its’ population.
Comment by Steve Thursday, Feb 21, 19 @ 10:34 am
===“It’s turning the tide after 20 years of less favorable budgets.”===
Rauner was governor for 20 years? Did I miss something?
And yes, that is snark.
Comment by Louis G. Atsaves Thursday, Feb 21, 19 @ 10:38 am
The big test is next year. If JB freezes or curbs spending after year one when some of these funding sources come around, then we’ll see progress.
Comment by Swampy Corn Thursday, Feb 21, 19 @ 10:41 am
Just a few quick points -
The increase in funding for Higher Ed is long overdue and much needed.
JB is supporting the continued funding of the Discovery Partners Institute and this is very good.
Yet, most Universities have significant deferred maintenance that needs to be addressed in a Capital Funding Bill.
Comment by illini Thursday, Feb 21, 19 @ 10:42 am
Oh - Louis G Atsaves -
Rauner only signed ONE budget in FOUR years.
Rauner went an entire General Assembly without signing a budget.
You think that was… fiscally smart?
I’m sure you were frustrated too but taking steps to reform Illinois was more important than a short term (an entire gubernatorial term) budget stalemate.
Right? Exactly right.
But… you got yours, so…
Comment by Oswego Willy Thursday, Feb 21, 19 @ 10:42 am
===But… you got yours, so…===
20 Years? Upper education was starved for 20 years? You have an explanation for that or is this all Rauner’s fault?
Interesting. The Pritzker transition report Hynes chaired did not solely place the blame on Rauner here and in other financial and budgetary items. Yet Hynes and Mendoza then authored a separate contradictory piece with the theme of Rauner and only Rauner did it or Rauner wrecked everything. This while Pritzker insists we move on forward. Multiple lanes, multiple confusion here.
You confirmed anti-Raunerites will have to pick a lane. Your argument reminds me of that silly kiddy movie “Ralph Wrecks The Internet.”
Comment by Louis G. Atsaves Thursday, Feb 21, 19 @ 10:51 am
===Rauner’s fault?===
You want me to pull up the Chancellor’s quotes or do you want to find them? LOL
Rauner wanted to passively close state universities by flat out refusing to fully fund higher education. You know this. Your guy wanted to destroy higher ed, not just starve it.
The two lanes of Raunerites;
Starve higher ed… to eventually close institutions
Give “funding” to higher ed.., if labor is completely destroyed.
Like I said, you got yours, you should be less combative, lol
Comment by Oswego Willy Thursday, Feb 21, 19 @ 10:58 am
The real joke (aka fraud) is McSweeny. It is amazing the media still quotes him without demanding his list of cuts, real details. The failure to ask for details from any GOPie is really media malpractice.
Comment by Annonin' Thursday, Feb 21, 19 @ 10:59 am
Here ya go, Counselor, bang on that table as the Chancellor mocks your thoughts on Rauner…
===The University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign is citing Springfield’s long budget stalemate as a culprit in its fall on the latest U.S. News & World Report ranking of U.S. colleges and universities. The downstate campus dropped to 52nd from a tie for 44th.
While Illinois went for more than two years without a budget, public universities like the U of I confronted smaller and less-reliable state funding, and many out-of-state students gave second thoughts to applying.
“Given the financial challenges facing higher education over the past 25 months, our focus has been on protecting our students’ Illinois experience and ensuring their success,” Urbana-Champaign Chancellor Robert Jones said in a statement. “We are proud that despite the state budget crisis, our graduation rate, freshman retention rate, admitted student quality and reputation among peers and high school counselors all held steady or improved. Our class sizes crept up, but only slightly.”===
Comment by Oswego Willy Thursday, Feb 21, 19 @ 10:59 am
Education is obviously one key to job growth (not stripping regulations, busting unions, slashing spending, etc), so good on Pritzker to push for more education investment. The former governor did a terrible number on higher ed.
The keys to remember with the last governor are malicious intent and unprecedented damage. Of course Democrats and Republicans of yore created massive problems, but the former governor greatly exacerbated them purposely, to cripple his opponents (if he didn’t he would have accepted compromise offers and worked hard on those).
Comment by Grandson of Man Thursday, Feb 21, 19 @ 11:01 am
McSweeny would have said the same thing even if ghere was a $2 increase. He feels the way back to power is simply opposition to tax hikes.
He isnt aware the main reason the GOP is losing voters is due to their stance on social issues.
Comment by low level Thursday, Feb 21, 19 @ 11:02 am
Yes, Louis, Democratic administrations also have cut funding for higher education and cut state headcount. Doesn’t that fly in the face of typical Republican tropes that Dems just like to spend?
Comment by Jibba Thursday, Feb 21, 19 @ 11:26 am
@low level, What you say could apply to the majority of the ILGOP in general. When do they ever support any tax increase in general? Their MO seems to be to decry raising taxes but not offering any specifics on what to cut (other than illegal pension ideas.
Secretly they know we need more revenue but hope that the Democrats do it on their own. That will accomplish two things, improve the fiscal health of the state and give them a nice campaign issue to use against the Democrats. Remember that before the election when Rauner did his “reset” he mentioned that paying our bills on time wasn’t a high priority. Maybe a lot of GOP members agree with that. The rating agencies would disagree with that though.
Comment by The Dude Abides Thursday, Feb 21, 19 @ 11:34 am
===Yes, Louis, Democratic administrations also have cut funding for higher education and cut state headcount. Doesn’t that fly in the face of typical Republican tropes that Dems just like to spend?===
Sure does. Yet @Willy’s fur is still flying over this.
Comment by Louis G. Atsaves Thursday, Feb 21, 19 @ 11:58 am
===fur is still flying over this.===
Aw, - Louis G Atsaves -, still ignoring Chancellor Jones, or…
LOL
Comment by Oswego Willy Thursday, Feb 21, 19 @ 12:00 pm
So @LouisG - I guess you are okay with a world class institution being continuously underfunded and further and ignored by our state leaders.
The U of I System ( consisting of some 86,000 students ) is still strong in spite of the small minded individuals who might wish they did not have to contend with such issues.
Comment by illini Thursday, Feb 21, 19 @ 12:25 pm
@Louis A….elections have consequences.
Comment by JS Mill Thursday, Feb 21, 19 @ 12:51 pm
===So @LouisG - I guess you are okay with a world class institution being continuously underfunded and further and ignored by our state leaders.===
For 20 years? I think my answers on that one were pretty clear.
The bottom line is that higher education in this State has been underfunded for 20 years. Put aside the partisanship for a moment and let that sink in.
Comment by Louis G. Atsaves Thursday, Feb 21, 19 @ 1:19 pm
Interesting that Medicaid is never mentioned. It is the big ticket item yet is not on the radar.
Anybody know the number on that program?
Comment by Nonbeleiver Thursday, Feb 21, 19 @ 1:19 pm
===The bottom line is…===
… Rauner vetoed an entire budget, only to be overridden.
Rauner that year funded higher education at a level of ZERO with his signature.
It was the GA that funded higher education.
After gutting higher education the first two years, refusing to sign a budget for the state, and “allowing” a partial funding of higher education, in hopes of closing one or more state universities… no governor since higher education began in this state funded higher ed at a level of zero, or starved the universities to force closures.
From Blagojevich to Quinn, not one… refused to fund higher education like Rauner, including his third budget Rauner refused to sign at all.
Comment by Oswego Willy Thursday, Feb 21, 19 @ 1:24 pm
@Oswego,
Rauner wanted to destroy ALL public universities in this state. That was his real agenda as you
probably know. And with the exception of the U of I he certainly has crippled them.
Comment by Nonbeleiver Thursday, Feb 21, 19 @ 1:32 pm
Knock, Knock. Hello? Where are the cuts?
Comment by nanderson Thursday, Feb 21, 19 @ 3:27 pm
why cut when we can lick the can?
Comment by Anonymous Thursday, Feb 21, 19 @ 6:49 pm
Same old story/ increased spending, increased taxes, and soon to be increased out migration of tax payers.
Comment by Anonymous Friday, Feb 22, 19 @ 7:40 am