The Secret Lives of Illinois’ Budget

Illinois legislators are congratulating themselves for passing a balanced budget on time for the first time in three years.

But should they be congratulating themselves at all?

While it may have passed on time, critics describe the legislation as just a spending plan and not a real budget, since no one has agreed on exactly how much revenue is coming in to the state. They allege it is only “balanced” with gimmicks, like counting a very optimistic projection for selling the Thompson Center three different times. And, the budget doesn’t do much of anything to address the states multi-billion-dollar backlog of unpaid bills or the $250 billion unfunded pension liability.

What other secrets is Illinois’ so-called budget hiding?

Join America’s Future Chicago as we welcome Adam Schuster, director of budget and tax research at the Illinois Policy Institute, as he pulls back the curtain on the Secret Lives of Illinois’ Budget.

Happy hour begins at 6pm. Presentation begins at 6:30pm. Tickets are $10 and include complimentary food and two drink tickets.