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AFSCME's contract will be fully funded under the budget, with the
hiring of an additional 1,150 front-line employees. The Department
of Corrections will get 500 of these new employees.
"The DOC was in desperate need of these new hires," said Bomke.
"They have seen steady cuts to front-line staff over the last five
years, and this puts prison employees and the general public at
risk."
Education will receive a boost with the new budget. Higher
education will receive a total increase of $68 million, while
elementary and secondary schools will receive an increase of $610
million. This is all done without the governor's proposed gross
receipts tax or the sale of the Illinois Lottery, as previously
suggested by this administration.
"I am glad that we will see education funding increase and
pension contributions fully funded this year without any of the
governor's proposed tax increases," Bomke said. "The majority of the
budget increases will come from an estimated $1 billion in natural
revenue growth."
Another highlight of this budget is that $35 million will go to
cost of living increases for employees who provide care for people
with developmental disabilities.
[Text from file sent on behalf of
Sen.
Larry Bomke by Illinois
Senate Republican staff]
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