Governor JB Pritzker delivered his annual State of the State and Budget Address to a joint session of the Illinois General Assembly in Springfield Wednesday.
State Representative Norine Hammond (R-Macomb), Deputy Republican Leader and the House Republican Caucus’ chief budget negotiator, provided the following statement in reaction to the Governor’s introduced Fiscal Year 2024 State Budget:
“Governor Pritzker is proposing a significant amount of new spending compared to the previous fiscal year, which included billions of dollars in one-time revenues/spending. The Governor’s FY24 budget includes a $49.64 billion proposed spending plan, which is a net $2.75 billion increase over FY23 and represents a 7.9% spending increase.
“Some of the Governor’s proposals are laudable initiatives, but we have to be cognizant of what the State can afford to continue to fund year after year. Once new programs or program expansions are built into the base, it will become difficult to meet that baseline spending in later years, when revenues are estimated to decline.
“I’m hesitant to promise new or expanded programs up front, to then not be able to deliver on those promises further down the road.
“The Governor’s proposed FY24 Budget is the first step in a lengthy budget process. The General Assembly will now begin its work to hold appropriations hearings and negotiate a budget that meets the needs of our most vulnerable citizens.
“I remain committed to a bipartisan budget process that is open, transparent, and accountable to hardworking Illinois families.”