SPRINGFIELD, Ill. (WAND) — Gov. JB Pritzker celebrated the passage of the Fiscal Year 2026 budget just hours after the spending plan passed out of both chambers. The Democrat believes the supermajority sent him a balanced budget focusing on future challenges.
Pritzker said Democrats stepped up to the challenge of President Donald Trump's policies that they fear will harm families and put a damper on the nation's economy.
"The Trump slump is affecting every state," Pritzker said. "The chaos and uncertainty of the Republican's proposed cuts to healthcare, to education, and jobs have made budgeting harder than ever before."
Pritzker said the budget invests $307 million in the evidence based funding formula and includes a $10 million increase in MAP grant funding to help even more people achieve higher education goals.
The plan features $263 million for the Home Illinois program and efforts to address homelessness.
Republicans are furious that this is the largest spending plan in state history and includes $1 billion in tax increases. House GOP Leader Tony McCombie (R-Savanna) said that was the first year that she was not invited to meetings with Pritzker or Speaker Emanuel "Chris" Welch to discuss the budget package.
"Not only is that rude to me and to our caucus, but the lack of transparency was a show of complete disregard and disrespect to those that we serve in the 102 counties," McCombie said.
While there is a massive amount of money heading to Democratic districts for special projects, some local Republicans will benefit from $500 million for historic site readiness plans. That includes funding to demolish the Lincoln Developmental Center and turn the property into an economic development hub.
"These are properties that have utilities," Pritzker said. "They've got water. They've got power. These are all the things that a business is looking for often when they move to Illinois. The more of those properties available in great communities like Lincoln, the better off we are."
Central Illinoisans will be happy to know that the massive Chicago transit reform and bailout plan did not receive a vote in the House before adjournment.
Many representatives and advocates were concerned about the potential $1.50 tax on all retail deliveries with motor vehicles. The delivery tax would've impacted everything from Amazon deliveries and DoorDash orders to medication shipments.
"I am even more convinced that the people of Illinois will rise up in opposition to this," said Sen. Chapin Rose (R-Mahomet). "They will rise up, as they should."
Pritzker plans to sign the budget in the coming weeks. Fiscal Year 2026 begins on July 1.
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