Prairie State Wire

Gov. JB Pritzker’s notion that his administration is to be thanked for a projection showing Illinois' budget shortfall much lower than anticipated is being refuted.

Pritzker issued a press release recently touting a revised five-year budget forecast by the Governor’s Office of Management and Budget.

“Here’s the question that’s key: What has Pritzker or the General Assembly done to improve Illinois’ finances, other than tax increases?” Mark Glennon asked in Wirepoints. “Nothing material. For Pritzker to include the higher estimates in the context of his claim that 'we celebrate the tremendous progress' they have made is unfounded for the simple reason that he has nothing to point to.” 

Glennon argued that Pritzker’s comments from the Nov. 14 release only tell part of the story. Pritzker trumpeted that "Illinois' bills are being paid on time." The governor also said that there is "over $1 billion in our rainy-day fund, our credit ratings are up and we are honoring our commitments to long-term financial liabilities by contributing extra to Illinois' pension systems."

Glennon's report further quoted Pritzker’s press release.

"As we celebrate the tremendous progress we've made with our partners in the General Assembly, we remain committed to working tirelessly for Illinois taxpayers and responsibly managing the state's finances," Prizker said. "We've closed a seemingly insurmountable structural deficit that I inherited, and together we are securing Illinois' long term fiscal stability and providing economic opportunities to its citizens."

Illinois has long struggled to bridge a gap in its long-term budget caused by generous benefits given to government employees leading to the worst pension crisis in the nation, The Center Square recently reported. Illinois also has the second-highest property tax rate in the country. As such, the state has one of the worst fiscal outlooks in the nation, something the ruling party and Pritzker appear to have left out of their comments. 

The governor’s comments were taken at face value by many media outlets that did not provide analysis. Others have noted that the projection is based on a budget that Sheila Weinberg of Truth in Accounting said the state is not telling the truth about.

"The people continue to be misled by the state's finances." Weinberg told The Center Square. "Can [Illinoisans] knowledgeably participate in their government if they are not being told the truth about their finances?" 

Illinois’ budgets under Pritzker have routinely ignored structural problems.

“Instead, it’s a budget that gives billions more to a political class that has proven to be the most corrupt in the nation,” a Wirepoints report said of Pritzker’s 2021 budget. “That will only invite more abuse.”