Metro East Sun

Governor Pritzker has proposed a new budget for fiscal year 2026, setting total expenditures at $55.235 billion. This represents a $1.994 billion increase over the previous year's budget, marking a 3.7% rise in overall spending. The Governor's plan relies on anticipated revenue that has not yet been confirmed by the Commission on Government Forecasting and Accountability (CGFA), as well as increased taxes and other measures that require legislative approval.

Since taking office in 2019, state spending under Governor Pritzker has grown significantly from $40.3 billion to the current proposal of $55.235 billion.

House Republican Leader Tony McCombie expressed concern about the budget proposal: “Illinois families deserve an honest and transparent government – not one that increases spending by $2 billion and masks a $3.2 billion deficit on paper, setting taxpayers up for a potential tax hike on May 31.”

State Representative Kevin Schmidt also voiced opposition to the proposed budget: “I stand firmly to support no tax hikes to supplement the proposed revenue hikes included in the largest proposed budget in Illinois history that is nearly a $2 billion dollar increase."

Schmidt further stated his readiness to enact an alternative budget focused on economic growth, reducing government waste, lowering taxes, and retaining families within Illinois.