Lauren Zuar

3 weeks ago | illinoispolicy.org | Ravi Mishra |Lauren Zuar

State lawmakers built Illinois’ record $55.2 billion budget for 2026 on gimmicks, one-time fixes and piecemeal tax hikes. They left pension debt, transit cliffs and real reform for another day. Illinois state lawmakers eked out a budget for 2026 at the last minute, upholding Springfield’s fiscal maxim: when restraint is too tough, sweep funds and squeeze taxpayers a little harder.

3 weeks ago | illinoispolicy.org | Bryce Hill |Ravi Mishra |Lauren Zuar

Illinois state lawmakers’ spending plan surpasses last year’s budget by $2 billion, requiring taxpayers to pay over $800 million in additional costs for yet another year of record spending. With just over 24 hours to conduct a full review, the Illinois General Assembly approved a record-setting $55.2 billion budget for 2026, after a 75-41 House vote sent the 3,000-plus page plan to Gov. J.B. Pritzker.

Feb 25, 2025 | illinoispolicy.org | Ravi Mishra |Lauren Zuar

Gov. J.B. Pritzker’s 2026 budget includes record spending, cuts to economic development and overreliance on short-term revenue tricks—including a cleverly hidden tax hike, leaving significant work for the state to reach financial stability. Gov. J.B. Pritzker unveiled his $55.2 billion budget for fiscal year 2026, a $15 billion increase from his $40 billion budget in 2019.