Illinois Republican Party

Illinois must pay the piper
5/4/2011

Belleville News-Democrat Editorial

When lawmakers passed a gigantic tax increase this year, most people assumed it would ease Illinois' financial crisis. But it feels like the state is just treading water.

Illinois Comptroller Judy Baar Topinka said recently that the state could owe about $8 billion in unpaid bills on June 30, the end of the fiscal year. That's how much the state owed the previous year.

Actually, the state didn't borrow money to fund pensions this year, so it could be worse. State vendors are waiting 60 days for reimbursement now, which, sad to say, is an improvement.

This week lawmakers will begin their sprint toward pulling together the budget for next fiscal year. They need significant cuts in expenses so it feels like the state is making noticeable progress -- and that pile of bills keeps decreasing.

SOURCE: Belleville News-Democrat

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