By Greg Bishop and Jared Strong | The Center Square
The Center Square

(The Center Square) – Gov. J.B. Pritzker is looking for 4% “efficiencies” after increasing spending by 43% since 2019.

Reviews of financial records by The Center Square show Illinois state leaders have increased discretionary spending 43%, or more than $16 billion, since 2019.

Government spending in recent years has soared in states after the coronavirus pandemic, thanks to large influxes of federal taxpayer funding and high sales tax revenues from more consumer spending and inflation.

State Rep. La Shawn Ford, D-Chicago, said Illinois under Democratic control did a good job spending COVID-era funds.

“There was no banking the money, we had to actually spend the money or lose it,” Ford told The Center Square.

Tuesday, Pritzker ordered state agencies to find 4% in savings, blaming President Donald Trump.

Illinois House Minority Leader Tony McCombie, R-Savanna, said Pritzker’s increased spending is to blame.

“This [executive order] talks about the [Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program] changes. Well, look at your own self. His own error rate since 2017 has gone up from 5.73 to 11.65%,” McCombie told The Center Square.

In the past three years, annual state spending increased an additional $9 billion to a total of about $55 billion.

Ford said Illinois may have to spend more to make up for lost federal funds, but warned against tax increases.

“It’s hard to think that we could levy new taxes on the working class people and think that there’s not going to be consequences behind it,” Ford said.

Illinois has raised taxes numerous times over the years, including this year’s tax increases on tobacco, vaping, sports betting and corporations.

McCombie said Democrats need to start listening to Republicans.

“They’ve never in the three years that I’ve been leader had serious conversations or any conversations about our ideas about how we can structurally reform Illinois to grow our state instead of killing it,” McCombie said.

Legislators return for fall veto session beginning Oct. 14.