A look back at Pritzker’s first seven budgets

Capitol News Illinois launched in 2019 on the same day JB Pritzker became governor. That means we’ve covered all seven of his previous budget addresses. Here’s a rundown of our past coverage as Pritzker enters the final year of his second term.

Fiscal year 2020

Pritzker came into office pledging to improve the state’s finances and social services after legislative Democrats and Republican Gov. Bruce Rauner had struggled for much of the previous four years to agree on budgets. To do so, he set his sights set on a graduated income tax — but he’d need help from voters to get the constitutional amendment approved. While lawmakers voted along party lines to put the question on the ballot, voters ultimately rejected it — but more on that later.

The governor billed the fiscal year 2020 budget as a “bridge,” getting Illinois to a point where the graduated tax could, hypothetically, kick in. At the 11^th hour, he secured Republican support in the House — making that year’s budget the only one in his tenure thus far to pass on bipartisan lines. Lawmakers also passed the $45 billion, six-year Rebuild Illinois infrastructure plan that relies upon annually increased gas taxes, cigarette taxes and revenue from an ongoing gambling expansion.

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The compromise budget included business-friendly tax breaks and $40 billion in spending (up more than $1 billion from Pritzker’s initial proposal due to an “April surprise” of strong tax-season revenue receipts). It was notable for including $1.2 billion to pay down the bill backlog, for kicking an extra $25 million to K-12 education, and for restoring some semblance of normalcy after Rauner’s term that was marked by a costly two-year budget impasse.

Here’s some of our stories from the time:

–Pritzker offers $38.7 billion ‘balanced’ budget

–General Assembly approves budget, pushes further action to Saturday or later

–Pritzker signs budget bill, with revenue package to pay for it

–Wins and losses, praise and criticism, for Pritzker and Democrats in year one

Here’s the Commission on Government Forecasting and Accountability’s budget book.

Watch the speech, via PBS.

Fiscal year 2021

In year two, Pritzker proposed two differing budget lanes, one with graduated tax revenue and one without. Ultimately, it was the latter that ruled the day — although the session essentially screeched to a halt at its midpoint due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Ultimately, the legislature approved a $42.8 billion budget (although about $1.4 billion was tied to the failed graduated tax amendment) that kept spending roughly flat from the previous year amid unprecedented uncertainty caused by the pandemic. To allow for social distancing, House lawmakers met at a Springfield convention center.

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While the budget authorized $5 billion in borrowing, pandemic-era federal stimulus packages ended up boosting revenues more than expected. The COVID-related financial gloom quickly transitioned to a period of sustained revenue growth as consumers spent more on taxable goods than untaxed services in Illinois as they stayed in their homes.

Here’s some of our stories from the time:

–Pritzker paints two budget pictures: One with graduated tax, one without

–Lawmakers pass budget package to close out special session

–Despite budget approval, much is in limbo after session

Here’s COGFA’s budget book.

Watch the speech.

Fiscal year 2022

When the graduated income tax failed, Pritzker warned “there will be cuts and they will be painful.” But in his fiscal year 2022 budget address — which was prerecorded from a building on the state fairgrounds amid the ongoing pandemic — he proposed keeping spending roughly flat at $41.6 billion.

But as the session progressed, the revenue picture improved. And instead of cuts, proposed spending grew to $42.3 billion by the time lawmakers approved the budget. (That’s after the governor had to issue an amendatory veto due to drafting errors in the budget’s late-night rush to passage.)

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Here’s some of our stories from the time:

–UPDATED: Pritzker outlines $41.6 billion budget with flat state spending

–UPDATED: Lawmakers pass $42.3 billion budget after 2 a.m.

–Pritzker issues amendatory veto on budget due to drafting errors, Senate accepts

Here’s COGFA’s budget book.

Watch the speech.

Fiscal year 2023

In the final year of Pritzker’s first term, revenue continued to surge, warnings of “cuts” became a distant memory and the governor actually proposed temporary tax relief in his budget. (The GOP called it an election-year gimmick).

The final tax relief package totaled $1.8 billion, while the state also dedicated surplus revenue to pay down pension debt and loans used to keep the unemployment insurance trust fund afloat. The state also continued to boost its rainy day fund.

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Here’s some of our stories from the time:

–Pritzker outlines $45.4 billion budget proposal, calling out his critics

–What’s in Illinois’ $46 billion budget package?

–Pritzker signs final first-term budget ahead of reelection push

Here’s COGFA’s budget book.

Watch the speech.

Fiscal year 2024

As Pritzker prepared for his first second-term budget, we reported on the unprecedented state revenue boom that created a type of honeymoon period for the governor following the pandemic.

The governor proposed a $49.6 billion budget plan, a full 25% higher than his budget proposal during his first year in office. His major focus was on expanding child care access, although controversy arose as a health care plan for immigrants that had passed quietly in the years prior was revealed to be far outstripping estimates.

The governor called on lawmakers to defray the cost of that program as the revenue picture tightened slightly in the session’s final months. But, ultimately, lawmakers approved a $50.4 billion spending plan, and the state’s rainy day fund hit a record-high balance.

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Here’s some of our stories from the time:

–Pritzker lays out $49.6 billion spending plan

–Pritzker’s second-term agenda buoyed by ongoing strong revenue expectations

–Pritzker puts final stamp on $50.4 billion state spending plan

Here’s COGFA’s budget book.

Watch the speech.

Fiscal year 2025

Revenue stopped surging in Pritzker’s sixth year, setting up tighter budget votes and last-minute fights over revenue raisers. The governor set out to raise $1.1. billion by capping net operating losses and a discount claimed by retailers while raising taxes on sportsbooks’ profits and transferring some money out of the road fund. The plan angered businesses.

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The governor still proposed $52.4 billion in spending, a considerable increase from the previous year despite the tighter landscape. He also called for health insurance reforms and increased speculation about his national ambitions with a fiery address. The governor faced some late opposition to his revenue proposal from Democrats.

Ultimately, lawmakers approved a $53.1 billion budget amid a late-night, dramatic vote that took several attempts in the House. The budgeting process hasn’t gotten easier since.

Here’s some of our stories from the time:

–Once again working through the night, lawmakers finalize $53.1 billion budget

–Pritzker proposes over $2B in spending growth, backed by tax increases for corporations, sportsbooks

–Brushing off concerns of overspending, Pritzker signs $53.1 billion state budget

Here’s COGFA’s budget book.

Watch the speech.

Fiscal year 2026

The governor’s budget office began warning of an upcoming multibillion-dollar deficit in November 2025. Then Donald Trump was elected, and it wasn’t long before the state’s relationship with the federal government was fundamentally altered. The governor proposed $55.2 billion in spending but warned that things could change as Trump’s cuts progressed as he likened Trump’s administration to the rise of Nazism in Germany in the 1930s. Black and Latino lawmakers criticized the spending plan.

The final budget, ultimately pegged at $55.1 billion in spending, once again raised taxes on sportsbooks along with nicotine products. It was introduced and passed on the final day of the legislative session. Then in their veto session, lawmakers agreed to decouple parts of the state and federal tax code, raising revenue and angering businesses.

That brings us to today, with a budgeting landscape that’s continually rocked by the instability of federal policy changes and ongoing threats and attempts to cut or freeze funding to blue states, including Illinois.

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Here’s some of our stories from the time:

–Pritzker calls $55.2B budget ‘responsible and balanced’ – but warns Trump policies could upend it

–New taxes on sports bets, nicotine products as Democrats pass $55.2B budget

–Pritzker signs $55.1B state budget reliant on $700M of new taxes

Here’s COGFA’s budget book.

Watch the speech.