US EditionIllinois Democrats Pass $55.5B State Budget With New Taxes on Sports Betting, Nicotine Products
- Illinois lawmakers approved a $55.1 billion fiscal year 2026 state budget on June 1, 2025, in Springfield.
- The budget was approved shortly after Democrats introduced an extensive spending proposal exceeding 3,300 pages along with a $1 billion tax initiative just hours prior to the vote, sparking controversy.
- The plan raises new revenue through taxes on sports betting and nicotine products while increasing spending by over $2 billion compared to the previous year.
- Civic Federation President Joe Ferguson criticized reliance on at least $271 million in fund sweeps, calling the budget "incomplete" and warning it could complicate future fiscal years.
- The budget prioritizes funding for education, healthcare, and pensions but its short-term balancing methods suggest challenges ahead amid uncertain federal funding and economic conditions.
11 Articles
11 Articles
New taxes on sports bets_ nicotine products as Democrats pass $55.2B state budget
SPRINGFIELD – Giving almost no time for public review, Illinois Democrats pushed through a $55.2 billion budget for next fiscal year late Saturday, bolstering coffers with new taxes on sports bets, nicotine products and businesses. ...
The Pantagraph
Herald & ReviewMoore: Why Illinois' budget grew from $40 billion to $55.2 billion in 6 years
The narratives around Illinois' budget have sharply diverged, with Democrats touting the paydown of debts and credit rating upgrades while Republicans sound the alarm on the growth in spending.
Illinois’ $55.2B budget ‘incomplete,’ Civic Federation president says – Capitol News IL
Among other gimmicks, the FY26 budget would suspend the monthly transfer to the “rainy day” fund for one year, freeing up $45 million for general fund use. “It’s absolutely a mistake,” Civic Federation President Joe Ferguson said, calling that decision “troubling.”
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