|
 Payments on Illinois' $30 billion of outstanding bonds, however,
will continue, said Munger, whose office pays the state's bills.
Bills incurred in the current fiscal year will be paid, she said,
but her hands are tied for most fiscal 2016 bills and payments
without appropriation authority from a budget.
"If the General Assembly is unable to work with the governor to
enact a balanced budget for fiscal (2016) by the end of this month,
nearly all payments coming from my office will stop on July 1,"
Munger told reporters.
Democrats, who control the legislature, have passed a $36.3 billion
budget that relies on cuts and at least $3 billion in
yet-to-be-identified new revenue. Republican Governor Bruce Rauner,
who appointed Munger comptroller, has insisted lawmakers pass his
so-called turnaround agenda, which includes term limits and a local
property tax freeze, before he will consider a tax increase.
 Munger said continuing appropriations allow for payments for state
bonds, retired worker pensions, revenue-sharing to local
governments, and certain assistance programs for the poor or
disabled.
Without a budget, state workers will not get paid starting July 15,
school districts will not receive Aug. 10 state aid payments, and
new vendor and Medicaid provider payments will stop, she said.
"I'm here to remind all involved that this is not a game to be won
or lost," Munger said.
Besides the looming budget deadline, Illinois' contract with the
American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees Council
31, which represents 38,000 state workers, expires on June 30.
[to top of second column] |
The union scheduled rallies around the state for Wednesday to urge
support for a fair contract.
"State employees have never been locked out or forced to strike in
some 40 years of collective bargaining in Illinois," a statement
from AFSME said. "But as a candidate, Governor Rauner repeatedly
vowed to 'shut down state government' in order to weaken the rights
and drive down the wages of public service workers."
To prevent strikes or lockouts from disrupting crucial state
services, Democrats last month passed a bill requiring mediation of
collective bargaining agreements between Illinois and its employees.
However, Rauner is expected to veto the measure. (Reporting by Karen
Pierog; Editing by Lisa Von Ahn)
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