Munoz praises balanced budget, fair tax legislation

CHICAGO – Gov. JB Pritzker signed the state budget and fair tax legislation on Wednesday. Assistant Majority Leader Tony Munoz (D-Chicago) reacted with the following:

“This year’s budget is a representation of the principles and goals of the people in my district. I’m proud to bring a balanced and functioning spending plan that invests in our schools, communities and workforce.

“Additionally, voters will get to decide to implement the tax rates approved by the governor today when the fair tax is put on the ballot in 2020.”

This year’s budget continues Illinois’ path toward stability by meeting the state’s pension obligation for the seventh year in a row while investing in our future by funding programs to benefit middle-class and working families.

The budget appropriates $375 million in additional funding for K-12 education, $25 million more than required by the evidence-based school funding formula. It also includes $50 million in new funding for early childhood education programs and expands eligibility for the Child Care Assistance Program.

Human service providers that are still struggling to recover from the previous governor’s budget crisis will receive millions in funding, from domestic violence shelters to early intervention programs.

Home health care workers will also get a long-awaited and much-needed raise. Those who care for seniors and individuals with disabilities are set to receive an increase of approximately $3.50 per hour.