SPRINGFIELD – Following Gov. JB Pritzker’s State of the State and Budget Address, State Senator Cristina Castro (D-Elgin) released the following statement:

“The last two years of unprecedented hardship for our families and small businesses have made our top priority helping people get back on their feet as we continue toward recovery from the pandemic.

“Our schools have been hit hard with the back-and-forth between in-person and online learning, which is why I’m glad to see additional funding for programs like the Early Childhood Block Grant as well as a $350 million investment in the Evidence-Based Funding Formula to distribute money to the schools who need it most. Additionally, increased funding for broadband will ensure our families have reliable internet access as we continue to work through unpredictable times. 

“This past year, Illinois has gotten on track to increase our fiscal standing through reducing our bill backlog. Making sure we save money on unnecessary interest costs by paying our bills on time means saving Illinois taxpayers money.

“I look forward to taking a hard look at the governor’s proposed budget and working with him and my colleagues to pass a budget that continues to help us recover.”

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