Pritzker wants more spending; how much depends on tax vote

SPRINGFIELD, Ill. (AP) — Gov. J.B. Pritzker proposed a $40.7 billion state budget Wednesday — virtually flat from the current plan — but dressed it up by dangling the prospect of a $1.4 billion revenue boost if voters approve a radical income-tax overhaul this fall.

The second-year Democrat presented a fiscal outline that purports to boost spending in key areas. For example, he proposed a $350 million annual increase in K-12 education promised by a 2017 funding change. But Pritzker is holding $150 million of that “in reserve,” to be used next year if the state constitution is rewritten to uphold a graduated tax on larger incomes, which would produce $1.4 billion more in revenue in the second half of the fiscal year that begins July 1.

“Because this reserve is so large, it inevitably cuts into some of the things that we all hold most dear: increased funding for K-12 education, universities and community colleges, public safety and other key investments,” Pritzker said in speech to a joint session of the General Assembly. “But as important as these investments are, we cannot responsibly spend for these priorities until we know with certainty what the state’s revenue picture will be.”

With the additional tax revenue, the Pritzker administration plans on a $42.1 billion blueprint, a 3.8% increase over the current year.

Other spending items on the “reserve” list are 5% increases for both university and community college spending totaling $70 million, $40 million extra for school programs such as special education and transportation, Medicaid provider rate increases, an entire class of state police cadets, and money to stave off a state government hiring freeze that could take effect on Dec. 1 if the constitutional amendment goes down at the ballot box.

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