Illinois Budget Crisis: $770 Million Transit Funding Gap Looms

Illinois Passes $55.2 Billion Budget, Leaving Transit Funding Unresolved Illinois lawmakers passed a $55.2 billion state budget, but the process was marked by controversy and left a significant funding gap for the state's public transportation system. The budget, approved just before a midnight deadline, includes new taxes, such as a 45% increase on tobacco products starting in July. However, it failed to address a looming $770 million shortfall faced by the Regional Transit Authority (RTA) by year's end. "This is a budget that, while technically balanced, may be more significant for what is not in it than what is," stated Michelle Gallardo of ABC 7 Eyewitness News. The lack of funding for the RTA has raised concerns about potential service disruptions. Republicans and government watchdog groups criticized the lack of transparency surrounding the budget's passage. A 3000+ page bill was introduced only hours before the vote, leaving lawmakers with little time to review its contents. The Governor, while celebrating the budget's passage, acknowledged the need to address the RTA funding issue in the coming months. The situation highlights the challenges of balancing the state's budget while ensuring adequate funding for essential services.