Gov. JB Pritzker | State of Illinois
Gov. JB Pritzker | State of Illinois
State lawmakers passed a record spending $53.1 billion FY 2025 budget early Wednesday morning.
In spite of reported chaos among ranks during House debate, the Democrat super majority utlimately delivered Gov. JB Pritzker much of what he wanted on his $52.7 billion wish list - plus an extra $410 million on top.
The Senate initially passed the measure on Sunday. Lawmakers, who inserted a 5% pay increase for themselves, then took the rest of the holiday weekend off, returning to the House at noon on Tuesday.
The gargantuan budget - which has grown 32% during Pritzker's administration - will force taxpayers to pay an additional $1.1 billion more for the excesses, all the while Illinois' tax base is eroding.
The state's population has been declining for 10 years. In 2023, 87 of 102 counties in Illinois saw population loss. In all, the state's population decreased by 32,826 residents last year.
Local Pork
Metro-East organizations will be among thousands of recipients across the state of Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity grants. Here are some of the local grants:
-$1.5 million for infrastructure improvements to East St. Louis Park District's swimming pool and aquatic facility.
-$400,000 to Metro East Park and Recreation District for infrastructure improvements at Gateway Geyser in East St. Louis.
-$250,000 for infrastructure improvements to the East St. Louis-based Teens Against Killing Everywhere (T.A.K.E.).
"What began as a modest effort to address missing manhole covers and broken streetlights in the Emerson Park neighborhood of East St. Louis, Illinois, has become one of the largest and most proactive community-based organizations in the Metro East area," T.A.K.E. claims on its website.
-$250,000 for infrastructure improvements to the Village of Brooklyn police and fire stations.
-$250,000 for infrastructure improvements to unincorporated areas in St. Clair County.
-$250,000 for infrastructure improvements to the Village of Swansea.
-$100,000 for infrastructure improvements to the City of O'Fallon.
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