Gov. Pritzker said in his State of The State Address Wednesday that he has done his part to fix the state’s finances. He says when he was elected in 2019; he spoke in front of the general assembly saying that the state had a $3.2 billion dollar deficit and $7.9 billion owed in unpaid bills.
He says at the end of his second full fiscal year, the state has received two credit upgrades. He says the state will end with a $1.7 billion surplus.
He says those that will bad-mouth the state will the fiscal success is because of the money from the American Rescue Plan. He says the state would still have a surplus even with the extra federal dollars.
He also said in his speech at the Old State Capitol Building that the COVID-19 pandemic has presented at challenge the likes of which we have not seen in generations. Pritzker says no one in the state has born a greater burden in the last twelve month than nurses, doctors, and first responders.
He says although he can’t lift burden off their shoulders, he says he can assist them in carrying some of it.
He says a larger percentage of Illinoisans have been vaccinated than any other Midwestern state. He also says schools have remained safe and open with fewer than a dozen of the 850 public school districts having to take an adaptive pause.
He also says he wants to freeze the gas tax and says he wants to continue growing the Illinois State Police force.
Correction: Gov. Pritzker said the state would still have a surplus without the funds from the American Rescue Plan. We apologize for the error.