Illinois Governor Proposes 4% Budget Cut Amid High Living Costs and State Worker Salaries
Illinois Governor JB Pritzker has proposed a 4% budget reduction following revelations of the state's escalating spending. This move comes amidst Illinois ranking high in living spaces costs and state worker salaries.
The state's high living spaces costs are evident, with Illinois ranking 19th according to the federal Bureau of Economic Analysis and 24th based on Missouri's Economic Research and Information Center. Despite these costs, Illinois state workers enjoy some of the highest wages in the nation. The average state government employee salary is about $79,000, excluding university jobs, which are even higher.
The University of Illinois' head football coach, Bret Bielema, tops the list with a base salary of $7.7 million. Since 2021, pay for state government employees represented by the AFSCME Council 31 union has increased 57% faster than private sector jobs in the USA. Lawmakers have also received a raise, with base pay increasing to $98,000, placing Illinois in the Top 5 states for legislative salaries.
The state has allocated millions to the Commission on Equity and Inclusion, aiming to ensure a certain percentage of state contract money goes to businesses owned by racial minorities, women, and people with disabilities in the United States.
Gov. Pritzker's proposed budget reduction seeks to address Illinois' ballooning budgets, despite the state's high living spaces costs and generous state worker salaries. The state continues to invest in initiatives like the Commission on Equity and Inclusion to promote diversity and inclusion in business contracting in the United States.
