South Central Reporter

Illinois State Rep. and lieutenant gubernatorial candidate Avery Bourne (R-Morrisonville) is no fan of the new state budget.

"Yesterday, JB Pritzker signed a record breaking annual spending plan — the largest in state history," she said in an April 14 Facebook post. "It's full of countless one-time election year gimmicks and new spending programs in an attempt to win over voters. There's not a single permanent solution to our financial issues. Let's take our state back from this nonsense."

The state's budget for fiscal year 2023, which starts on July 1, 2022, is $46.5 billion. 

NBC 5 Chicago quoted Pritzker as saying that this budget and tax relief are needed. 

"We end this legislative session with enormous and historic victories for the people of Illinois: Gas, grocery, and property tax relief, more support for local government than ever before, a massive improvement in staffing for our nursing home residents, short and long term debt reduction, and a balanced budget for the fourth year in a row," Pritzker told NBC 5.

Bourne isn't the only Republican running for office who isn't happy with the budget in its approved form. Darren Bailey, who is running for governor, also spoke his mind on the matter.

"Taxpayers deserve accountability here in Springfield," Bailey told the East Central Reporter. "We must focus on fixing our fiscal mess and instituting sustainable spending reforms that prioritize middle-class and working-class people over corporations and special interests. It’s time that we put an end to this nonsense of passing pork-filled budgets full of unread pages and empty promises, and it’s time that we stand up for working people that you continually ask to carry the load for your woke unrealistic agendas."    

The NBC 5 report identified some items in the budget that will affect Illinois residents' finances. For instance, the sales tax on groceries will be suspended through July 1, 2023; the fuel tax will be frozen at $0.39 per gallon until Jan. 1,  2023; homeowners will receive up to $300 in property tax rebates; and the earned income tax credit will be expanded.