SPRINGFIELD, Ill. (WREX) — In a marathon overnight session, the Illinois General Assembly passed a record near-$56B budget for fiscal year 2027.
The budget, as reported by Capitol News Illinois, is slightly less than Gov. JB Pritzker’s proposal from February. The budget does include new taxes on businesses but authorizes less spending than Pritzker proposed.
Democrats, who hold a large majority in both houses of the legislature, cited the funding cuts from the Trump Administration in their defense of the new taxes and spending. Republicans criticized that tax relief measures, including on gas and school supplies, didn’t go far enough, saying the plan will hurt the state’s finances.
After the budget’s passage, local lawmakers have been speaking out about the plan.
Rep. Tony McCombie (R-Savanna), the Minority Leader in the Illinois House, called the budget “another spending spree” in a Monday morning statement:
“At a time when people are struggling with property taxes, rising energy bills, healthcare costs, and the overall cost of living, this budget continues the same pattern of higher spending, questionable revenue assumptions, fund sweeps, and budget gimmicks rather than addressing the real structural challenges facing Illinois families.
Governor Pritzker and Democratic lawmakers continue to take from taxpayers, with no concern for affordability. The people of Illinois deserve transparency, accountability, and a government that puts their priorities ahead of partisan politics. Illinoisans want fiscal responsibility and growth, not another one-party spending spree.”
Rep. Maurice West II (D-Rockford), an Assistant Majority Leader in the Illinois House, said in a statement that the budget creates a “brighter future for families”:
“Families are facing turmoil as the actions of the federal government have raised the prices of everything from groceries to gas, and I knew coming into this spring legislative session lawmakers would face difficult choices and lead hard conversations. However, we worked to address and ease many of the challenges families talk about at the kitchen table each and every night. This budget provides critical investments in education, healthcare, and public safety while providing relief to families throughout our community.
While federal policies continue to make life more difficult for many families facing cost-of-living challenges and threats to their hard-earned savings, I appreciate the steps we have taken to support families and individuals across Illinois. More challenges lie ahead, but I remain optimistic we can work together to build a stronger future for all in the Rockford region and across our state.”
Rep. John Cabello (R-Machesney Park), an Assistant Minority Leader in the Illinois House, said taxpayers are being “hosed” by the “bloated” budget:
“Governor JB Pritzker and his allies in the General Assembly proved again tonight that they have learned nothing from their failed policies over the last eight years. They promised affordability. Instead, they passed a budget that repeats the same tax-and-spend approach that has landed Illinois ranked 49th in economic performance and 45th in economic outlook, according to the nonpartisan Rich States, Poor States Competitiveness Index.
The people of Illinois deserve a government as honest as their work, as responsible as their families, and as strong as their character. For them, for their future, for the Illinois we love, I voted ‘No’ on the FY27 state budget that fails to deliver the tax relief and spending restraint that we desperately need for our state to thrive again.”
Sen. Steve Stadelman (D-Rockford) supported the budget in a statement, saying it “provides critical support” across the state:
“This budget invests in our schools and students while helping families make ends meet. By strengthening education and funding, providing property tax relief and supporting food security programs, we’re helping ensure every child has the opportunity to succeed.
This budget takes important steps to address the pressing challenges facing our state. By supporting schools, hospitals and families in need, while also easing costs at the pump, we’re making Illinois more affordable and keeping communities strong.”
Sen. Andrew Chesney (R-Freeport) blamed extremist politics in passing the budget that will “sell out hard working taxpayers”:
“This budget is the perfect example of how out-of-touch the far-left Democrats who claim to ‘care’ about Illinois truly are. All talk, zero relief, and disastrous results for the people who actually pay the bills.
The governor and his spin doctors can try to put lipstick on this pig all they want. It’s still a pig. Illinois deserves better than this failed Democrat agenda. It’s time to put Illinois First, stop the reckless spending, cut the taxes, and advocate for the working families who keep this state afloat.”
Sen. Dave Syverson (R-Cherry Valley) voted against the budget, but said in a statement there are some positive takeaways from it:
“Unfortunately, this almost $56 billion budget continues a pattern we have seen for years in Springfield: state government spends beyond its means and then raises taxes to make up for the shortfall. This budget includes more than $800 million dollars in new taxes and fee increases, while providing no meaningful property tax relief for Illinois families and nearly $600 million in pet projects.
This budget also relies on gimmicks, including diverting dollars away from road programs to help balance the books. At some point, state leaders need to recognize that government must live within its means just like taxpayers do.
There is a lot of bad in this bill, but one bright spot is that due to our public opposition to the Governor’s proposal, we were able to stop proposed cuts to local governments. Those cuts would have placed even more pressure on local communities and likely led to higher property taxes for homeowners.”
Sen. Li Arellano Jr. (R-Dixon) called the budget “irresponsible” in a statement released Monday morning:
“Today’s budget again proves that Governor Pritzker and the Democratic majority refuse to learn from their economic mistakes, while frustrated citizens are paying the price. Illinois has another record-breaking budget totaling almost $56 billion along with more than $800 million in new taxes, fees, and fund sweeps. The answer to every problem is the same: spend more, tax more, and use unethical maneuvers to hide the process. The crushing reality of debt and economic loss is not hidden, though, to Illinois families and businesses.
I voted no because our families and workers deserve a state government that respects taxpayer dollars and focuses on building a real path for the future, instead of borrowing against the future while somehow managing to ruin affordability for people right now.”
Rep. Dave Vella (D-Loves Park) said the budget has “a focus on making life more affordable” in a Monday statement:
“This session, my number one priority was making sure the families I represent can afford to live, work, and raise their children here in Illinois. Whether it was lowering grocery costs at the grocery store, reducing the burden on small businesses, or expanding access to affordable housing, every vote I cast was for the people of Rockford and Belvidere.
Families across Illinois are on tight budgets when it comes to groceries, housing, and insurance costs rising while decisions made in Washington have left families behind. Major cuts by bad actors at the federal level have made everyday life harder for working people, and that’s not acceptable. That’s why, this year, I’ve fought to change that by cutting taxes for homeowners, cracking down on unfair insurance increases, and making sure Illinois families can thrive instead of just surviving. Our work isn’t done, and we’re not backing down.”
Rep. Joe Sosnowski (R-Rockford) said Gov. Pritzker’s priorities are “in the wrong place” in a statement released Monday morning:
“Illinois families need meaningful and permanent tax relief, yet for the 8th year in a row under Governor JB Pritzker, the new state budget instead adds to Illinois’ dubious status of having the highest overall tax burden in the nation. This year, the state budget adds $800 Million in new taxes and fees; and spends a shattering new record high $55.9 Billion, including $410 Million on a multitude of services for non-citizens. Enough is enough.
Despite the disappointing outcome of the state budget, I still have faith in Illinois’ future if those of us who believe in lower taxes, limited government, and individual freedom stick together to persuade others who are sick of being taxed into oblivion by Governor Pritzker and the current majority in Springfield. We can make Illinois an affordable place to live and a magnet for job growth and opportunity again when more citizens across the state rally to support the positive alternative House Republicans are offering.”
Rep. Bradley Fritts (R-Dixon) criticized the budget and the way it was passed in a statement:
“The FY27 budget was more of the same in Springfield: the same deceptive practices and lack of transparency on another record-breaking budget. This year’s budget is $55.9 billion, with an additional $800 million in new taxes and fees on working families.
While the budget itself is unbalanced and has severely misplaced priorities, the worst part of passing the budget is the process. This year, the final amendments to the budget were filed one hour before consideration, and then House Democrats waived their own rules! These rules aren’t meant to be optional. They’re meant to be a mechanism to prevent legislation from being rammed through in the middle of the night and to provide transparency to taxpayers.
What we saw yesterday and this morning was a textbook case of bad government. Illinoisans deserve better than the broken process Springfield Democrats have been delivering.”
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