Munoz: Senate Budget continues to stabilize state services

SPRINGFIELD – Assistant Majority Leader Antonio “Tony” Munoz (D-Chicago) supported the Senate’s FY 19 state budget Wednesday.

“The bottom line is this budget funds the services many people in my district depend on,” Munoz said. “We put the people of Illinois first with this budget, and I am happy that it was able to come together with support from Democrats and Republicans.”

The Senate budget includes a funding increase of $350 million in K-12 funding, which keeps up with the state’s commitment to the new evidence-based funding formula that was approved last year. This investment ensures no school district will receive less money than last year, and many will receive additional funding through the formula’s tier-based system.

The budget also funds programs the governor tried to eliminate, including: after school programs, school support services, parent mentoring and Teach for America.

Higher education will see more stability with a two percent increase, including funding for MAP grants and a new grant program to help middle class students pay for college and remain in Illinois while doing so. Community colleges will also receive $4.3 million for Military Veteran Scholarships to be distributed based on their veteran enrollment.

Funding is also restored for the Child Care Assistance Program, Addiction Treatment and Prevention Services, Community Mental Health Services, Autism services, youth employment services, Teen REACH, Immigrant Integration Services and Welcoming Centers under the Senate’s proposal.

Dollars for violence prevention programs, opioid overdose prevention, breast and cervical cancer screenings, prostate cancer awareness and lead poisoning screening and prevention are also included.
“We were able to protect the state from the governor’s decimation of programs while providing for the most vulnerable citizens in Illinois, and Republicans joined us in the effort,” Munoz said. “That’s the way state government is supposed to work – to the benefit of all Illinoisans.”

The budget will now head to the House for further approval.