Pritzker Signs Fiscal Year 2021
Operating Budget
Joins Governors Across the Nation in
Urging Congress to Pass Funding for State and Local Governments
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[June 12, 2020]
In an effort to address the massive economic disruptions caused by
the COVID-19 global pandemic, Governor JB Pritzker signed into law a
$42.9 billion Fiscal Year (FY) 2021 General Funds operating budget
(SB 264, HB357) that maintains funding for critical programs, such
as education, health care, and human services while advocating for a
national program to support state and local governments. SB2099,
providing authorization for Illinois to directly access the Federal
Reserve Bank’s Municipal Liquidity Facility program was signed May
29th.
“Since taking office, my administration has prioritized effective
and efficient government as we’ve worked to undo years of financial
mismanagement while rebuilding our hollowed out state government,”
said Governor JB Pritzker. “The COVID-19 pandemic highlighted the
enormous role government plays in keeping communities safe and
providing the tools people need to build better lives. While the
pandemic has had a devastating impact on our state revenues,
investing in our people will allow the state to rebound and recover
from this pandemic as we safely re-open. I will continue to advocate
for a national program to support state and local governments to
make up the difference in the revenues that fund vital services like
hospitals and salaries for teachers and first responders.”
"This budget buys the state time to get to a better tomorrow, one in
which medical science helps us push back against this disease and
Washington steps up to help jump start the economic recovery of
Illinois and every other state in the country,” said Senate
President Don Harmon. “I want to thank Senators Heather Steans, Andy
Manar, Omar Aquino, Elgie Sims and Laura Ellman for their efforts to
confront so many unknowns and find a way to bring needed stability
to the budget."
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“It's important for Illinois to stand strong with our neighbors right now,” said
House Majority Leader Greg Harris. During all the stress and increased need in
our communities, this budget helps support and stabilize our schools, colleges
and universities, human services and healthcare systems. We prioritized funding
for communities that have long suffered disparities and that now have been
hardest by COVID-19, and focused our resources where the need is greatest.
The major components of the FY21 budget invest in the governor's key priorities
of education, healthcare, public safety, vital human services, criminal justice
reform, and, ongoing COVID-19 relief, while fully funding the state's pension
contributions.
The FY 2021 budget also directs more than $5 billion in federal aid from the
Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act and other federal aid
packages, to public health, social services, small businesses, local governments
and households, including funding targeted to communities disproportionately
impacted by COVID-19.
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The FY 2021 budget reflects reductions in operations appropriations of $200
million and another $140 million at the Department of Transportation from
introduced levels and includes savings from an ongoing partial hiring freeze and
restricted operations expenditures.
If Congress fails to enact funding for states and local governments in the near
term and additional revenue from Public Act 101-8 doesn’t pass, the governor and
his administration will work with the newly created Legislative Budget Oversight
Commission and the Illinois General Assembly to identify solutions for
addressing any financial gaps.
The budget will go into effect on July 1, 2020, the beginning of the state's
2021 fiscal year.
Fiscal Year 2021 Budget Highlights - Pdf
[Office of the Governor JB Pritzker] |