Illinois budget leans on gas-tax windfall, boosts lawmakers’ pay
TL;DR
Illinois lawmakers are finalizing a nearly $56 billion budget backed by a windfall from higher gas prices, diverting about $150 million of gas-tax revenue from mass transit to operating expenses while approving a 3.2% cost-of-living increase for lawmakers to $101,450 and similar raises for the governor and agency heads; the plan also relies on new revenue ideas (digital advertising tax, fantasy-sports tax) and includes a one-time $400 SNAP payment for residents who lose benefits under federal rules, with education funding maintained and no layoffs.
- Illinois lawmakers closing in on $56B budget deal backed by gas tax windfall and some election-year tax breaks Chicago Tribune
- Details of $55.9B budget begin to take shape with 12 hours left in session Capitol News Illinois
- Illinois Democrats inch toward $56B state budget that eyes new taxes on prediction markets, crypto Chicago Sun-Times
- Pritzker’s proposed budget shorts pensions by $5.4 billion Illinois Policy
- Progress being made on budget measures in final hours of session NewsChannel20
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