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FROM:
Bonnie Cox, LWVIL President
Hilary Denk, LWVIL Issues Chair
Kathy Nesburg and Andy Daglas, Issues Specialists
RE: General Fund Budget for Fiscal Year 2019
ACTION NEEDED:
Call and email the governor and your state representative and senator. Tell them that Illinois needs a General Fund Budget for Fiscal Year 2019 and that they should pass one by May 31, 2018.
WHY IT MATTERS:
Without a budget:
- School districts (K-12) will not know how much money they will receive from the state which will cause difficulties when they try to set their budgets for the 2018-2019 school year. They may have to make cuts in case they do not receive state funds.
- Higher education will have to make cuts to their budgets. Students will have to find ways to make up for the lack of MAP grants. Some students will decide to leave the state.
- State employees will not be paid unless a court orders the state to pay. State employees' health care bills will not be paid. Health care providers will not receive money that they are owed.
- Federal funds will not be accessible because they must be dispersed through the budget.
- Social and Health care providers will continue to cut staff and services. Intended recipients of these services will not receive them. Court orders will be required for services to continue.
- The rating agencies will give Illinois junk bond status, which will increase the interest payments that the state must pay to borrow money.
- Pensions will not be fully or adequately funded.
League of Women Voters of Illinois' proposals to raise revenue:
- Raise the income tax rates
- Expand the sales tax to include more services
- Tax retirement income
- Impose a tax on financial transactions
- Pass a constitutional amendment to allow for graduated rates for the income tax
- DO NOT FREEZE property taxes. This will harm school districts and other local governments.
Contact Info:
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