Quincy Reporter

Illinois State Senator Jil Tracy has called on Governor J.B. Pritzker to redirect his spending priorities from national interests back to Illinois. In a Facebook post dated February 19, Tracy urged the governor to "pass a spending plan that will not be balanced on the back of hard-working families."

"Gov. JB Pritzker needs to refocus his spending priorities from the national spotlight back to Illinois and pass a spending plan that will not be balanced on the back of hard-working families," said Tracy, according to Facebook.

According to Tracy, her remarks were made during a press conference following the budget address. She questioned whether the state budget was truly balanced, noting that it is the largest in Illinois history with $55.2 billion in proposed spending against an expected $55.4 billion in revenue. Tracy said that Senate Republican budget staffers estimate the budget is actually $425 million out of balance.

Screenshot of State Senator Jil Tracy's Feb. 19 Facebook post | State Senator Jil Tracy's Facebook page

Governor Pritzker's proposed budget focuses on investments in early childhood education, childcare, higher education, economic development, and poverty reduction. The proposal outlines improvements since 2019 under Pritzker’s leadership, including reducing unpaid bills by $8 billion and increasing the rainy-day fund from $4 million to $2.25 billion. The document also notes that initial forecasts for annual deficits from 2019-2024 were addressed through fiscal management policies aimed at balancing revenues with targeted spending increases.

The revenue for the 2026 fiscal year is projected to reach $55.453 billion, marking a 2.9% increase from the previous year. Proposed general fund expenditures are anticipated to total $55.234 billion, reflecting a 2.5% increase from estimated spending in 2025. Seventy-five percent of this increase will be allocated toward base pension costs, medical expenditures, and funding for the Illinois State Board of Education's Evidence-Based Funding (ISBE EBF). According to Pritzker’s office, the proposed budget forecasts a $218 million surplus for FY 2026, with $154 million designated for the budget stabilization fund.

Senator Jil Tracy represents Illinois' 50th Senate District and was elected in November 2022. Before joining the Senate, she served as a State Representative from 2006 to 2014 and has experience as Mt. Sterling City Attorney and Assistant Illinois Attorney General under Attorneys General Jim Ryan and Lisa Madigan.