The End of Session, Part 1: The Budget📜
Dear Emily,
At around 3:30am on Saturday morning the 27th, the House of Representatives adjourned our spring session.
It was a busy one! As I do every year, I’d like to do my best to summarize the biggest changes we made this year.
Today’s note will focus on the state budget. I’ll send future notes about the major legislation the body addressed, and about the bills that I spearheaded myself.
The budget we just passed is for Fiscal Year 2024, which starts on July 1. For that year, we’re projecting to bring in about $50.7 billion dollars, mostly from the “Big Three” sources of state revenue — personal income tax, corporate income tax, and state sales tax.
As usual, about half of that money is obligated in fixed costs: our actuarially required payment to the pension system, debt service on our borrowing, payments to our state employee health plans and the Medicaid program, and so on. We also added $200 million in pension payments above and beyond the required contribution — think of this as putting more than the minimum payment on your credit card. It’ll reduce our payments by a lot in the long run.
The rest goes to all manner of basic services, and we were able to make some meaningful new investments to help families across the state. We added $350 million to K-12 education, with priority given to school districts in the greatest need. We’re also launching a new program called Smart Start Illinois, which will dedicate $250 million to early childhood education — more preschool seats, expanded child care, and increased subsidies for families to get those services. And we’re adding $100 million to the MAP program to make college more affordable to low- and middle-income students.
People who provide physical and behavioral healthcare to our most vulnerable neighbors often get paid way too little to do so. So we added considerable rate increases to healthcare providers, like those who care for adults with disabilities in our community, who will see a much-needed $2.50 per hour raise. That also includes better reimbursement for hospitals and physicians who serve Medicaid patients. We continued fully funding our state’s first-in-the-nation Medicaid program for undocumented adults ages 42 and up. And we’re investing $200 million in ending homelessness, for new arrivals and for longtime residents, through the new Home Illinois program, which we championed in the Housing Committee that I chair.
I also want to highlight a few line items that I fought specifically to increase. In order to help our communities to resettle new arrivals, we secured $42.5 million for asylum seekers. To help provide positive opportunities for young people this summer, we allocated $15 million for youth summer jobs. And I fought hard for a wonderful program that was born right here in our neighborhood, the Parent Mentor Program, which provides parents in the community a stipend to volunteer at their kid’s school, helping teachers and classrooms and building stronger learning environments. We secured $14 million for parent mentors in the budget, a 75% increase over the previous fiscal year.
We were also able to allocate significant dollars to capital improvements in our community — more on that soon!
Next time, I’ll share updates on some major pieces of legislation that are headed to the Governor’s desk for his signature. Until then, be well. And if you have any questions about the state budget (it’s a doozy!), don’t hesitate to ask.
Sincerely,
Will
Community Resources & Events
ADDICTION RECOVERY RESOURCE FAIR
Community members are invited to stop by our Addiction Recovery Resource Fair on Saturday, June 10 to learn about addiction and substance abuse disorders, as well as the wide variety of support services available right here on the Northwest Side.
Hot meals and refreshments will be offered to all.
In addition to informational resource tables there will be several 20-minute sessions covering key topics related to addiction and substance use disorders.
Register at: https://fb.me/e/XhlYhsvB
SUMMER JOB FAIR FOR TEENS
Join the Hermosa Neighborhood Association for a teen job fair now through Friday, June 2. Learn more about employment opportunities right here in the neighborhood. This event is geared towards teens and young adults ages 14-24.
Learn more and RSVP at: https://www.ourhermosa.org/blog/2023/chicago-teen-job-fair
MIRACLE CENTER KICK-OFF TO SUMMER FESTIVAL
The Miracle Center is hosting a "Kick-Off Summer Festival" for the whole family to enjoy!
This event is FREE and includes:
Health and Dental Screenings
Nutritious food samples
Free Groceries from Goya Foods (while supplies last)
Kids' Zone Games
3-on-3 Basketball tournaments, and more!
Be sure to join us this Thursday, June 1!