A new budget, maybe the biggest ever, has been passed for the state of Illinois. Illinois State Representative, Dan Swanson, highlights the new budget, taxing, percentage increases and decreases, and what much more will look like in the future for the state.
“The governor talks about higher education, but higher education only got a 1% increase. Going back 4 or 5 years, it’s been a 3%, last year was a 1%, this year was a 1%, and we all know what our house holds inflation we’re seeing. It doesn’t cover the mechanical needs, and the salary needs of our colleges. So, it’s very disappointing to see that. There was legislation to redevelop the funding formula for higher education, similar with what we’ve done with K-12. It’s going to be an expensive $135 million increase in the budget, so it’s faced some difficulties.”
“Some of the increases, there’s going to be an attack on internet services provided, which is going to generate a couple $100 million, but it’s going to be a new tax on businesses here in Illinois. If you’re trying to do an internet business, and when you have exchange with the internet, it’s going to be a tax on that. One thing that was good that came out of that was the 1.3% increase in the sales tax on fuel, which has been delayed for 6 months.”
These are just some of the highlights of the new Illinois state budget that was recently passed. Courtesy of Illinois State Representative, Dan Swanson, for updating us on some of the increases and decreases for Illinois.
Written by WRAM/WMOI Intern Addisyn Switzer
