Chambana Sun

State Rep. Brad Halbrook (R-Shelbyville) is one of several critics questioning Gov. J.B. Pritzker’s announcement of a less-than-expected budget shortfall for the state.

“I am not surprised most news outlets simply accepted what the Governor’s office had to say as the gospel truth,” Halbrook told the Chambana Sun.

“Illinois has had a rainy day fund for a long time, but it has not really been a functional rainy day fund because as soon as it was funded – it was depleted and used to fund the day-to-day operations of the state. It seems to me there needs to be more context to this story.”

“The only reason the state is paying its bills in a timelier fashion and appears to be in a better place financially is because of the amount of federal money infused into the state’s coffers," Halbrook said. "We have not addressed the long-term financial challenges facing our state. JB Pritzker has done nothing but set records for state spending every year he has been in office. This is not sustainable and the problem will only be compounded once the federal money is gone.”

“There is no question the infusion of federal dollars into the state coffers has improved our state’s financial outlook in the short-term, but these short-term gains do nothing to address the long-term financial challenges facing our state," Halbrook said. "We can’t fix the state’s financial problems with a one-time cash infusion. We need to get spending under control. The state is losing population and our state spending is increasing year to year. We need structural reforms to avoid insolvency. Illinois still has the worst credit rating of all 50 states and our pension systems are nowhere close to being fully funded. Instead of patting himself on the back, Gov. Pritzker should be working toward the long-term structural reforms we need to get our state back on track.”

Halbrook’s comments come after the Governor's Office of Management and Budget prtojected the state would eliminate its budget shortfall in 2023.  

“GOMB is continuing to monitor the revenues closely as inflation and national/international factors beyond the state's control may impact the economy in uncertain ways. GOMB is now projecting a nearly $1.7 billion net surplus in the general funds budget for fiscal year 2023, wiping out a forecasted fiscal year 2023 shortfall of nearly $3 billion as estimated in 2019,” a press release from Pritzker’s office reads.

Pritzker's opponents said the improved outlook has a lot more to do with one-time COVID funds from the federal government and higher taxes.

Writing in Wirepoints, Mark Glennon criticized Pritzker’s opinion that his administration should be thanked for a projection showing a smaller budget shortfall

“Here’s the question that’s key: What has Pritzker or the General Assembly done to improve Illinois’ finances, other than tax increases?” 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.”

Others have noted that the projection is based on a budget the state is obscuring.

"The people continue to be misled by the state's finances,” Sheila Weinberg of Truth in Accounting 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.”