© 2024 NPR Illinois
The Capital's Community & News Service
Play Live Radio
Next Up:
0:00
0:00
0:00 0:00
Available On Air Stations

Past Due: Three-Year Budget Projection Includes Massive Bill Backlog

flickr/401(K) 2012

Gov. Bruce Rauner’s budget office released three-year budget projections today. According to the estimate, if Illinois remains on its current fiscal path, the sate’s backlog of unpaid bills would swell to nearly $25 billion by Fiscal Year 2019.

If that were to happen, the backlog would be equal to nearly three quarters of the state’s operating funds.

The Governor’s Office of Management and Budget (GOMB) is legally required to present annual three-year projections based on current law. The estimates released today assume moderate growth in revenues and that future budgets keep spending increases to less than $1 billion each fiscal year.  

A document released with the numbers rehashesthe governor’s budget proposal for the current fiscal year. It doesn’t include any new plans for putting an FY 2016 budget in place, but it does acknowledge that it would be a difficult task. “The failure to enact a complete and balanced fiscal year 2016 budget six months into the year makes it significantly more difficult to balance revenues and spending this year or reduce the bill backlog,” the document said. It touts $700 million in current-fiscal-year savings — which come from freezes on spending in several areas, including social services, violence prevention programs, state police vehicles and equipment, and agriculture programs. 

Credit The Governor's Office of Management and Budget
/
The Governor's Office of Management and Budget
Three-year projections from the governor's budgeting office

If the automatic spending that has been going on for the past 6 months continues, and no new revenues come in, GOMB expects a $4.6 billion deficit at the end of the current fiscal year. “Working with the General Assembly, the governor is committed to enacting balanced budgets for fiscal years 2017, 2018 and 2019 and reducing the bill backlog.” The document includes no such pledge for the current fiscal year. 

Medicaid and public employee benefits are identified as areas Rauner would cut. “Benefit reforms that would reduce our budget-busting payments for pensions, employee health insurance and Medicaid would help put the state on a responsible and sustainable fiscal path, far different than the future that Illinoisans will face if there are no reforms.”

It also reiterates the governor’s stance that enacting his business-friendly Turnaround Agenda would stimulate Illinois’ economy and lead to a growth in revenues. The document does not describe any tax increases specifically, but it does say that the governor is still open to raising taxes. “With progress in the Turnaround Agenda that would ensure our state’s future, the governor is willing to partner with legislators to increase revenues and responsibly limit spending.” 

Related Stories