This article reports on Illinois Comptroller Leslie Munger addressing the budget impasse by delaying paychecks to lawmakers until the stalemate is resolved. Civic Federation President Laurence Msall remarks that the Comptroller’s plan draws increased attention to the fact that Illinois has been operating without a budget for the past ten months, during which many of the State’s vendors have…
This article discusses an announcement by Illinois Comptroller Leslie Munger that lawmakers’ paychecks will be delayed as a result of the ongoing budget impasse. Civic Federation President Laurence Msall notes that not having an FY2016 budget has been devastating for groups that rely on the State funding.
This article discusses a recent state budget forum featuring a panel of eight Illinois lawmakers providing their respective insights on Illinois’ current financial crisis. Civic Federation President Laurence Msall co-moderated the event. He called on lawmakers to provide specific solutions to end the budget impasse and reinforced the reality that in the absence of an FY2016 budget, …
This segment examines how the State of Illinois has been spending billions of dollars in revenue even in the absence of an FY2016 budget. Laurence Msall, President of the Civic Federation, notes that the impasse creates tremendous burdens for current and future citizens and taxpayers.
Due to its growing backlog of overdue group health insurance bills, the State of Illinois is expected to pay a total of at least $454 million in interest penalties in the current and upcoming budget years, according to a new report. The report by the General Assembly’s Commission on Government Forecasting and Accountability (COGFA) shows that the backlog of unpaid claims held by the State…
This article examines the nearly billion dollars of interest the State of Illinois has paid in penalties over the last several years because of its continually late bill payments. Civic Federation President Laurence Msall notes that these penalty payments are a fiscally irresponsible use of the State’s money.
As the State of Illinois’ budget impasse continues to drag on, it is commonly overlooked that the underlying economy and tax base in the State continue to grow. In FY2017 the State of Illinois is projected to have an additional $631 million in General Funds revenues available compared to FY2016, the current fiscal year. The Governor’s FY2017 recommended budget shows a maintenance level of…
With the budget for the current fiscal year still incomplete, Governor Bruce Rauner proposed a financial plan for the next budget year with an operating deficit of $3.5 billion. The proposed budget for fiscal year 2017, which begins on July 1, 2016 and ends on June 30, 2017, was issued on February 17, 2016. The recommended FY2017 budget includes general operating revenues of $32.8 billion and…
This editorial discusses the eight-month Illinois budget impasse, calling on Illinois General Assembly leaders to aid in passing a budget. The Civic Federation’s State of Illinois FY2017 Budget Roadmap is cited as a reasonable blueprint for what the State’s budget might look like, including a mix of increased revenues and spending cuts.
This editorial features recommendations found in the Civic Federation’s FY2017 Budget Roadmap and discusses Illinois’ potentially bleak future if steps aren’t taken to address the State’s financial crisis. The Editorial Board calls the Federation’s recommendations “warnings” and notes that problems that are ignored do not disappear—they only grow worse.
