Dear Friends,

Illinois has gone two years without a complete budget.

Today, Gov. Bruce Rauner has a chance to do his job and put an end to the state’s suffering.

The governor is scheduled to deliver his budget speech at noon and unveil his plan for the next state budget year, July 1, 2017 to June 30, 2018. The Illinois Constitution requires the governor to propose a balanced budget:

SECTION 2. STATE FINANCE

(a) The Governor shall prepare and submit to the General Assembly, at a time prescribed by law, a State budget for the ensuing fiscal year. The budget shall set forth the estimated balance of funds available for appropriation at the beginning of the fiscal year, the estimated receipts, and a plan for expenditures and obligations during the fiscal year of every department, authority, public corporation and quasi-public corporation of the State, every State college and university, and every other public agency created by the State, but not of units of local government or school districts. The budget shall also set forth the indebtedness and contingent liabilities of the State and such other information as may be required by law. Proposed expenditures shall not exceed funds estimated to be available for the fiscal year as shown in the budget.

I invite you to watch the speech. Click here to watch the Governor's Budget Address today at noon.

Sincerely,

Senator Napoleon Harris, III
15th District – Illinois