Governor's Budget Office Reports State Could Reach $33 Billion Bill Backlog, Pritzker says "Painful" Cuts Coming
Without cuts or a tax increase, the Governor’s Office of Management and Budget reports the state’s bill backlog could grow to $33 billion in the next five years.
The Governor’s Office of Management and Budget put out its annual five-year forecast Friday and the report implied a potential financial disaster for the state unless lawmakers take drastic action.
The report shows the bill backlog would balloon to more than $33 billion if action is not taken.
Of course, under that scenario, it would require the state not to make any reforms to spending or raise any taxes.
Democrats had banked on billions in new revenue from the graduated income tax, but the referendum failed when presented to voters earlier this month. Add in a budget that was passed with a giant hole that counted on a $5 billion federal bailout that may never arrive and things look even more dire.
Pritzker said Monday cuts will have to come first.
“The cuts will be somewhat painful,” Pritzker said.
Some Republicans The Illinoize spoke to think Pritzker is trying to scare the Democratic legislature into passing a tax increase before the next legislative session.
In 2011, after Democrats faced losses in the Illinois House, several lame duck lawmakers voted to raise income taxes in the final hours of their terms at the behest of then-Governor Pat Quinn. It caused controversy because some outgoing lawmakers received jobs or appointments after their vote.
More recently, more moderate Republicans broke from then-Governor Bruce Rauner to support a tax hike and unbalanced budget to stop cuts to schools, universities, and state agencies in their districts. Republicans we’ve spoken to don’t seem interested in putting any votes on a tax hike under any circumstance or plea from Pritzker.
Pritzker, though, is regarded by many as the most leftward leaning Governor Illinois has seen in some time and cutting state services doesn’t seem like his style. Some Republicans speculate he’s trying to gin up support from liberal voters to push more moderate Democrats, potentially including Speaker Michael Madigan, to feel as if they have some cover to vote for a tax increase.
It’s unclear if or when the legislature will be able to return before the current General Assembly adjourns sine die in early January.
