Press release…
After speaking to the investments made possible by the FY22 state budget this morning, Governor JB Pritzker signed Senate Bill 2017, the FY22 Budget Implementation Act, as well as the certification of the General Assembly’s concurrence on Senate Bill 2800, the state’s spending plan.
“By signing the state budget today, Illinois is taking a giant step forward, toward true fiscal stability,” said Governor JB Pritzker. “We balanced the 2022 fiscal year budget independent of the American Rescue Plan, by working together with tireless lawmakers who went up against the challenges of a global pandemic and passed a budget that meets the moment. Together, we are putting Illinois on the right track.”
Gov. JB Pritzker on Tuesday said he will make more than $700 million in state budget cuts this fiscal year including a hiring freeze, grant reductions and “operational savings” as a first step to address a $3.9 billion projected revenue shortfall related in part to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Pritzker said the plan is the result of a “months-long and ongoing review” of state agency spending that he can alter with his executive powers.
He said the General Assembly will need to get involved, beginning with the session scheduled to begin in January, to further address both COVID-19-related revenue losses and shortfalls that are “structural” and were made worse under his predecessor, Republican Gov. Bruce Rauner.