Gov. Pritzker's budget proposal includes $1B in tax relief

(WSIL) -- Governor JB Pritzker has laid out his budget proposal for the next fiscal year.��

The governor made his address in-person this year after doing so virtually last year due to the pandemic.��

This year's budget proposal includes a one-time relief for grocery, gas and property taxes. It also includes supplemental pension payment and adding funds to the state's "rainy day fund."

Family Relief Plan

$475 million in property tax rebates for families, with a one -time property tax rebate payment to homeowners of 5% of property taxes paid, up to $300 for those eligible for a state income tax credit��
$360 million by freezing the state’s tax on groceries
$135 million by freezing the planned increase in the gas tax

Fiscal investments

Additional $500 million directly to the Pension Stabilization Fund, reducing long-term liabilities by $1.8 billion
Adds nearly $900 million to the Rainy Day Fund over FY22 and FY23
Eliminates the $898 million owed for employee health insurance��
Saves the state $2 billion

Education

$350 million increase for Evidence Based Funding for K-12 schools��
$96 million increase for transportation and special education ��
$54 million increase for Early Childhood Education ��
$300 million to grow childcare grants ��
Increase MAP funding to $600 million, a one year $122 million increase, increasing the max award to 50% of tuition at public universities and expands eligibility to students enrolled in short-term certificate programs��
Pays off the $230 million unfunded liability for College Illinois
Increases funding for minority teacher scholarships��

Healthcare

Waives licensing fees for nearly 470,000 frontline healthcare workers ��
$180 million to preserve and expand the healthcare workforce, through Medicaid providers - focusing on underserved and rural areas ��
$140 million to mental health care providers through rate enhancements��
$70 million to 9-8-8 call centers and crisis response services for mental health issues ��
$25 million to expand the pipeline of nurses through the Illinois Community College Board��

Small business

One-year waiver of retail liquor license fees for restaurants, bars, and liquor license holders��
$38 million to Employer Training and Investment Program to assist with workforce and employee training efforts��
$5 million to develop minority entrepreneurship programs and support small, minority owned businesses��
$35 million in new capital appropriations to Rebuild Main Streets and Downtown Commercial Corridors

Public Safety and Violence Prevention

Over $800 million for violence prevention appropriations��including appropriations for Reimagine Public Safety and R3 grants ��
300 new state troopers ��
$50 million increase directly from cannabis revenues to support communities harmed by violence, excessive incarceration and economic disinvestment ��
$20 million to support Gang Crime Witness Protection Program ��
$20 million for non-profits for security investments to prepare for hate crimes ��
$5.4 million for increased staffing and equipment at new forensic lab in Decatur, after expanding state forensic capacity in Chicago and Joliet

Protections for most vulnerable population

$2 billion for services for people with developmental disabilities, including implementation of 2nd phase of Guidehouse recommendation
$250 million to hire additional DCFS staff, increase rates for private partners and create new residential capacity

Click here to review the��and the complete FY23��.��