Metro East Sun

State Representative Charlie Meier (R-Okawville) is among several Illinois lawmakers voicing significant concerns over the proposed Illinois Fiscal Year 2025 Budget, finalized late Friday evening when the House was initially scheduled to adjourn. The new budget includes increased taxes on sportsbooks, reduced tax discounts for retail businesses, and an overall cost increase nearing $1 billion.

“This incomplete and overpriced budget missed its deadline by five days and still misses the mark in a variety of ways,” said Rep. Meier. “House and Senate Republicans were left in the dark once again when it came to details within the budget proposal and were not brought to the table nearly enough during the process.”

Rep. Meier cited multiple reasons for his opposition to the budget, including pay raises for politicians and hundreds of millions allocated for Democratic pork barrel projects. He also pointed out billions in subsidies earmarked over the next three years for sanctuary state policies, which he claims have already cost taxpayers close to $3 billion since Fiscal Year 2022.

“This budget was written to support state Democrats and their one-sided agenda, not the people that make up the state of Illinois, and certainly not the millions of them who are served by Republican legislators,” stated Meier. “The FY25 budget includes hundreds of millions of dollars in projects that do nothing more than serve the districts of Democrat legislators. It continues to shell out close to $1 billion in subsidies for failed sanctuary state policies. But it does nothing for the Illinoisans in Republican districts who need funding just as much as those in Democratic districts. We have to begin spending wisely and funding successful initiatives that benefit ALL Illinois residents, not costly partisan projects that ignore our most pressing issues.”

One positive aspect within the FY25 budget is the permanent elimination of the 1% state grocery tax. Rep. Meier noted that with grocery bills combined with near-all-time-high inflation rates, Illinois families require this kind of tax relief.

“Not often under this dome do we have the chance to permanently end a tax on Illinois residents, especially a tax that affects the everyday lives of families,” remarked Meier. “This provision gives working individuals and families a break on their grocery bill. Our residents deserve this relief.”

After days of delays and disagreements within Democratic caucuses, the FY25 budget passed in the Illinois House of Representatives with a vote tallying 065-045-000.

State Representative Charlie Meier represents District 109, which includes portions of Bond, Clinton, Madison, St. Clair, and Washington counties.

For more information, please visit CharlieMeier.net or contact Rep. Meier’s district office at 618-651-0405.