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* Greg Hinz talked to Taxpayers’ Federation of Illinois President Carol Portman and Civic Federation President Laurence Msall about yesterday’s budget proposal…

“The governor’s budget proposal is good news,” said Portman. “I’m sure lots of folks, including us, can find things they wish were in there, or weren’t, but overall it is a refreshing change from what we’ve seen too often in the past. Shoring up the state’s rainy day fund, contributing more than the required minimum to the pension system, and paying down the remainder of the state’s bill backlog are all straight out of the ‘good fiscal policy’ playbook.”

Msall used the same phrase: Good news. If the General Assembly follows Pritzker’s lead and enacts those plus dedicating much of the $3.5 billion the state has left in federal COVID relief to pay off debts in the state’s unemployment insurance trust fund, “That would be a really positive thing.”

Msall even went a little farther, lauding Pritzker for using state revenues that have been surprisingly strong of late to pay off debt first, rather than spending more. That, in part, is due to Pritzker’s decision last year to balance his budget without assuming he’d get lots of federal relief. When that relief came in, the state to some extent had extra money, Msall said. […]

Portman said that while the governor may have balanced his budget without direct federal aid, the rosy news is a direct result of a growing state economy, an economy that was kicked into high gear by enormous pump-priming at the federal level.

That last bit is true. All states benefited from federal spending designed to boost the nation’s economy.

* Meanwhile, the Tribune editorial board appears to be relying on the Illinois Policy Institute’s website, because the board parroted the IPI’s line about the state receiving $14 billion from the feds. Here’s IPI…

After receiving $14 billion in one-time federal aid, Illinois could see a balanced budget for the first time in 22 years

* Tribune…

And it’s worth noting that the federal aid hardly was limited to that $14 billion.

The state received a bit over $8 billion for itself and, by federal law, local governments were given the rest. The state was a pass-through entity. If this goof had happened a year ago, I’d think it was deliberate. Now, I just think the board is too lazy and/or ignorant to check facts.

…Adding… From the Illinois Policy Institute…

Illinois received additional funds from CARES as well as an increase in Medicaid matching funds. When you add it all up, its $14 B. If you include all aid to local governments, the number is approx. $32B. Wanted to pass along. Source: https://www.covidmoneytracker.org/.

The CARES Act money was distributed in April of 2020.

* Here’s your roundup. I tried to include info that we didn’t cover much yesterday…

* Gov. J.B. Pritzker proposes more money for anti-violence programs, state troopers and nearly $1 billion in temporary tax relief in reelection year budget proposal: Recognizing the GOP message could take hold among critical suburban swing voters, Pritzker proposed allocating $240 million, largely from federal pandemic relief funds, toward community-based violence prevention. That’s close to the total of $250 million he pledged to spend over three years when signing violence prevention legislation last fall. … Pritzker also is proposing an $18.6 million increase to the Illinois State Police budget to hire and train an additional 300 troopers, an additional $10 million in grants for local law enforcement agencies to purchase body cameras as required under the criminal justice overhaul he signed last year, and $20 million to fund a new protection program for witnesses of gang crime. “Crime is a complex and multifaceted problem to tackle, and it’s cynical and counterproductive to simply shout ‘Lock them up’ while providing fewer resources to the people and programs that prevent crime in the first place,” Pritzker said in his speech. “A truly effective approach to tackling crime involves both short-term and long-term investments and a commitment to see those investments through,” he said.

* Pritzker outlines $45.4 billion budget proposal, calling out his critics: Included in the budget are initiatives aimed at expanding the state’s health care workforce. Among those is a $25 million program called the Pipeline for the Advancement of Healthcare, or PATH, workforce program to help community colleges train nurses, technicians and other high-demand health care personnel. It also includes a $180 million Healthcare Workforce Initiative directed at hospitals, clinics and other providers to pay for staff bonuses, continuing education, training and staff retention and recruitment. Some other highlights of the budget proposal include increased funding for all levels of education – early childhood, K-12 and higher education – as well as increased funding for human services like foster care, mental health and disability services; and funding to train and hire 300 new Illinois State Police officers.

* What’s in Pritzker’s proposed budget?: Approximately 21 percent of the budget is dedicated to Pre-K-12 education, an increase of $498 million from one year ago. That includes $350 million for the evidence-based funding formula for K-12 schools, which prioritizes new money toward the schools furthest from their “adequacy” target, which takes into account class sizes, a local district’s property values and other factors. The budget asks for another $54.4 million to provide early childhood education services to another 7,100 children, and another $96 million in transportation and special education grants for schools. Another $12 million would be added to the Regional Offices of Education budget to address truancy and chronic absenteeism, and agriculture education funding would increase by $2 million.

* Gov. JB Pritzker’s $45.4 billion budget plan includes $1 billion in tax cuts: The governor celebrated several financial wins that have happened since he took office. During his tenure, Illinois has received two credit upgrades and reduced a backlog to pay bills. At its worst, the state had $16.7 billion in unpaid bills, with some being unpaid for more than 500 days. He said the average bill now sits unpaid for about 15 days. … The budget plan includes $4 billion in debt paydowns, which the governor’s office said will repay all COVID-19 related borrowing, pay $900 million in delayed health insurance bills and $392 million to other bills, among other things. … The governor’s proposed budget projects decreases from last year in both money coming into the state, down about 4.2%, and money being spent, down about 3.5%.

* Pritzker promises tax relief, education, pension money thanks to ‘smart budgeting’ — but GOP smells ‘election year gimmicks’: The fiscal moves are proposed with an eye toward Wall Street credit ratings agencies that have issued their first upgrades to the state in decades under Pritzker — who would surely welcome another boost heading into a tough re-election battle.

* Illinois Gov. JB Pritzker offers a $45.4 billion spending plan for 2023, with tax relief taking center stage: Beyond stressing those financial improvements, Pritzker used his speech to also emphasize the physical and economic struggles Illinoisans have faced during the pandemic and repeatedly invoked the teachings of the famed, late anthropologist, Margaret Mead, who taught the importance of caring for others. “Maybe it’s time we remember what Margaret Mead was trying to teach…long ago: that who we are is measured by how we care for those who need us. And that we wouldn’t be standing here today if that simple ancient value wasn’t deeply ingrained in our very existence,” Pritzker said, delivering some of the final lines of his more than 45-minute speech.

* Black and Latino caucuses voice support for proposed budget: The proposed budget includes funding for the Illinois Supreme Court’s requested $26 million to establish comprehensive pretrial services in the 63 counties that lack such services. It includes another $10 million in new appropriations from the Law Enforcement Training and Standards Board to pay for the obligations associated with the SAFE-T Act. … “One of the things I like is we will be addressing healthcare disparities, ensuring economic viability by retaining and creating jobs, investing in small businesses, which is the backbone of our local economies, supporting education,” said Rep. Nick Smith, D-Chicago.

* Gov. J.B. Pritzker Details Temporary Tax Relief Plan in Budget Address Kicking Off Reelection Year: “I urge the governor to release the $30 million from the American Rescue Plan funding for safety net hospitals and hospital transformations,” State Sen. Emil Jones III, D-Chicago, said in a statement. “The safety net grants must be restored back into the budget so that our most vulnerable communities are properly equipped to combat this pandemic and other health disparities. For years, many of our safety nets haven’t seen a dime of their much needed funding. Let’s deliver on the promises we already made before we commit to new ones.”

* ‘The proof’s in the details’: Suburban mayors, business leaders react to Pritzker budget: In Hanover Park, the village’s annual share of the grocery tax is about $690,600, Mayor Rod Craig said. Pritzker said the state will reimburse municipalities for any revenues lost, but “we collect those receipts quarterly. How’s the state going to process that? The proof’s in the details,” Craig said. Likewise with tweaks to motor fuel tax revenues, “for us, we use a lot of that for road resurfacing,” Grayslake Mayor Rhett Taylor said. “The details are important.”

posted by Rich Miller
Thursday, Feb 3, 22 @ 9:15 am

Comments

I don’t see it as a goof Rich. The state did receive the money. Locals are part of the state.

Comment by allknowingmasterofraccoondom Thursday, Feb 3, 22 @ 9:42 am
=== GOP smells ‘election year gimmicks’ ===

Keep the “Gimmicks” coming, JB.

Comment by PublicServant Thursday, Feb 3, 22 @ 9:43 am
Here’s the “thing”…

Gimmicks, not gimmicks, real or phony angst…

If you’re an incumbent GOP legislator (or Bourne and Demmer too to their races) and you decide to be Red on $1 billion in tax cuts, on infrastructure goodies, higher ed funding (you’d think downstate legislators after starving HE they’d wanna make it right… but I digress) social service funding … AND … more funding for ISP, more troopers on the road…

… have at it.

Go crazy, cheer voting against it.

- Louis G Atsaves - suggested the GOP “let the Dems go it alone”

What exactly is the GOP gonna claim *they* accomplished?

What will Bourne and Demmer say they want, or “wasn’t good enough” in giving tax relief, more money to ISP, etc..

Vote your switches. The one that’s Red might not be all that of a good choice.

Comment by Oswego Willy Thursday, Feb 3, 22 @ 9:50 am
===I don’t see it as a goof Rich===

Everyone’s a theater critic. /s

Comment by Rich Miller Thursday, Feb 3, 22 @ 9:52 am
Watching the GOP knock tax relief is the laugh I needed this morning. Stay classy.

Comment by oifredleg Thursday, Feb 3, 22 @ 9:53 am
People, this post is mostly not about the GOP response. We covered that extensively already and we may do so again.

Let’s stick to what’s actually in *this* post right now. Thanks.

Comment by Rich Miller Thursday, Feb 3, 22 @ 9:53 am
since 2012, the US has deficit spent nearly $1 trillion a year. it ends up somewhere. China meanwhile, amassed nearly a $1 trillion dollar surplus the last 4 years. not sure we shoukd be applauding anything just yet. but I realize this is not an illinois thing I can’t help but think it will be in future generations.

Comment by Blue Dog Thursday, Feb 3, 22 @ 9:56 am
Msall’s positivity was a bit of a surprise. Haven’t heard a lot out him the past few years, which is also another indicator of Pritzker’s success.

Comment by JS Mill Thursday, Feb 3, 22 @ 10:01 am
Good year for Durkin and McConchie to play nice in the sand box. Take the budget off the table and focus on the only thing they can get traction on…crime.

Comment by Nagidam Thursday, Feb 3, 22 @ 10:06 am
JB and the legis need to be careful on getting funds to taxing bodies on the losing end. Relying on retailer cuts is a failed idea.
It seems that might be a good time for research on the age old lack of appreciation for the fact that the state does not collect sales tax on food and medicine.

Comment by Annonin' Thursday, Feb 3, 22 @ 10:07 am
As the saying goes, you play the hand that’s dealt. And JB seems to be playing this one quite well particularly as it pertains to prioritizing the reduction of debt over spending.

Comment by Pundent Thursday, Feb 3, 22 @ 10:18 am
===…crime.===

“Pritzker also is proposing an $18.6 million increase to the Illinois State Police budget to hire and train an additional 300 troopers, an additional $10 million in grants for local law enforcement agencies to purchase body cameras as required under the criminal justice overhaul he signed last year, and $20 million to fund a new protection program for witnesses of gang crime.”

So they are going to vote against funding to prevent crime while running a negative campaign based on… crime?

Comment by Ducky LaMoore Thursday, Feb 3, 22 @ 10:18 am
When you read Msall’s remarks about the budget, as an example, Tribune or not, IPI’s talking points seem to be, themselves, a “smoke and mirror” type of negativity, with the Trib Edit Board trying to steer a conversation away from what Msall sees to what is not an actual assessment of the fiscal realities of this.

Comment by Oswego Willy Thursday, Feb 3, 22 @ 10:25 am
None of the local outlets highlighted stories about the actual address, opting instead to post reactions from Republicans

Comment by SWIL_Voter Thursday, Feb 3, 22 @ 10:36 am
===Everyone’s a theater critic.===

Now you’re just showing off…

=== The fiscal moves are proposed with an eye toward Wall Street credit ratings agencies that have issued their first upgrades to the state in decades under Pritzker===

What’s good is the coverage now is predicated on an idea of boosting the rating, not hoping for a downgrade… or covering it as a “doom” watch for the state.

It’s a positive on the coverage of the rating. That’s kinda new.

Comment by Oswego Willy Thursday, Feb 3, 22 @ 10:54 am
“for the first time in 22 years”

Just like the $14 Billion number, I don’t think this is true either. After the tax increase under Quinn I think we had a couple of proposed budgets (FY13 and FY14) that actually ran very small surpluses for the operating side of the budget.

Comment by One Trick Pony Thursday, Feb 3, 22 @ 11:00 am
Even Jim Leach is not all that thrilled about the gas and grocery tax suspension:

https://www.wmay.com/2022/02/02/editorial-not-all-that-relieved/?fbclid=IwAR0M7p_hU8hwiDYP2BeUu-D8LU3yOcbrFN4HERTaViDehubB5FCLoHiz3us

Comment by NonAFSCMEStateEmployeeFromChatham Thursday, Feb 3, 22 @ 11:35 am
=- JS Mill - Thursday, Feb 3, 22 @ 10:01 am:=

He’ll probably get a talking to from his secret, undisclosed donors. So much for transparency.

Comment by Precinct Captain Thursday, Feb 3, 22 @ 11:43 am
==So they are going to vote against funding to prevent crime while running a negative campaign based on… crime? ==

Such cognitive dissonance has never stopped them before.

Crime is definitely a weakness for Dems, but yesterday demonstrated why it’s so hard to beat an incumbent- they can take a lot of action to address their weaknesses, especially with a pliant legislature.

Comment by Arsenal Thursday, Feb 3, 22 @ 12:08 pm
-Good year for Durkin and McConchie to play nice in the sand box. Take the budget off the table and focus on the only thing they can get traction on…crime.-

and then run a candidate whose advertises about being tough on crime, while emphasizing his zeal about getting offenders acquitted.

Comment by Fivegreenleaves Thursday, Feb 3, 22 @ 12:49 pm