In this issue:
- Budget deadline just over two weeks away
- Honoring our first responders
- Community Health Fair coming up June 10
- Illinois headlines
Budget deadline just over two weeks away
The General Assembly is scheduled to complete its work and adjourn the spring session on Sunday May 31. After that date the state Constitution requires a higher vote threshold for most legislation to pass. The new state fiscal year begins on July 1.
Many issues remain unresolved, which is not uncommon for this point in the session, as there is always a last-minute crush of legislation right at the deadline. This includes the upcoming year’s state budget, which is still under development.
Earlier this year, Governor Pritzker proposed a state budget of more than $56 billion, which would be the largest budget in Illinois history – breaking last year’s spending record, which broke the previous year’s spending record. Democrats continue to argue amongst themselves over how large this year’s tax increases should be. One of the larger tax increase proposals comes from a group calling itself the Illinois Revenue Alliance, which wants to raise taxes by almost $4 billion this year.
The state’s Commission on Government Forecasting and Accountability reported an increase of $146 million in general funds revenue in April 2026 compared to April 2025. This increase was generally in line with expectations, avoiding the “April surprise” that we have sometimes seen in the month around the tax filing deadline, when revenue sometimes comes in either much higher or much lower and throws budget projections into turmoil.
Income and sales tax receipts were up, and corporate income tax receipts were down. Unemployment in Illinois has increased above 5%, which should encourage legislators to prepare for an economic decline rather than charging ahead with even more taxing and spending.
As we consider the budget, here is what I will be looking for: the budget must be truly balanced with no accounting gimmicks and no tax increases, it must fund our important priorities like education, public safety, transportation, rural hospitals and services for farmers (just to name a few), but it must not include wasteful spending like the millions in pork projects in only Democrat-held districts which were included in last year’s budget.
Honoring our first responders
It’s been a solemn few days around the Capitol lately. Last week was the fallen police officers’ memorial ceremony at the police monument on the Capitol grounds, and Tuesday the Capitol hosted the Fallen Firefighter Memorial Ceremony at the firefighter memorial.
With so many family members and colleagues of fallen first responders at the Capitol we heard several resolutions in memory of those who have made the ultimate sacrifice for our communities.
Every day, firefighters and law enforcement officers work to protect our communities, uphold public safety, and respond in moments when others need help most.
We proudly support our brave police officers and firefighters and recognize the sacrifices they and their families make in service to others. Thank you to all first responders for your hard work, professionalism, and dedication to keeping our communities safe.
Community Health Fair coming up June 10
Mark your calendar for Wednesday June 10, when Senator Chris Balkema and I will be hosting a Community Health Fair in Watseka!
Our FREE community health fair will give local residents the chance to receive helpful information, guides and other resources from state, county and local service agencies.
We will be at the Watseka School Unit 9 Office, located at 1411 W. Lafayette Street, from 9 a.m. until noon on Wednesday June 10.
We invite local organizations and service providers to participate and connect with community members by sharing valuable programs, resources and information.
If your organization is interested in participating, please contact my district office at (779) 218-3070 or email [email protected] for more information.
I hope you can stop by!
Our current bill backlog
When a vendor provides the state with goods and services, they submit the bill to the Illinois Comptroller for payment. The Comptroller processes the paperwork and pays the bill when funds are available in the state’s checking account. Currently the total amount of unpaid bills is $1,290,932,809. This figure changes daily. Last year at this time the state had $1.9 billion in bills awaiting payment. This only includes bills submitted to the Comptroller for payment, not unfunded debts like the state’s pension liability, which is well over $100 billion.
Illinois headlines
Department of Employment Security faces questions about fraud recoveries
IDOA announces specialty crop block grant funding available
Illinois leads the nation in tornadoes in 2026
More than 250 attend Grundy Economic Development Council legislative breakfast