Following weeks of negotiations carried out under pandemic conditions, the governor signed a budget aimed at fighting COVID-19 and preserving state services in the face of unprecedented revenue shortfalls.

“The budget was extremely difficult to craft in these unprecedented times, but I believe it will provide desperately needed relief to communities as we continue on a path toward recovery,” said State Senator Elgie Sims (D-Chicago), one of the Senate’s budget negotiators.

While making $1 billion in cuts in comparison to the governor’s proposed Fiscal Year 2021 budget, Senate Bill 264 increases funding to the Dept. of Children and Family Services and programs that help seniors and the developmentally disabled live independently in their homes – especially crucial as the state responds to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Funding for schools and public safety are preserved at their current levels under the plan, while programs that are truly crucial in responding to COVID-19 will see increases, including senior meals programs, home care and respite services, DCFS, and other programs that help the developmentally disabled and their families.

Included in the budget this year:

• $8.9 billion for P-12 education, an increase of $12.7 million when compared to what was enacted in FY 20, including an increase of $6.77 million to evidence-based funding to ensure all schools’ funds are level and an additional $11 million over the previous year for mandated categoricals such as transportation.
• Level funding for early childhood education.
• Level funding for higher education.
• An increase over FY 20 of $43 million to public safety agencies, including increases to violence prevention and reduction programs, and 280 additional staff and equipment, commodities, and supplies to improve operations at the Illinois Veterans’ Home at Chicago.
• A $438 million increase to human services, with funding that includes:
  • Increases to the Community Care Program and similar home care services like Home Delivered Meals, Adult Protective Services, Senior HelpLine and area agencies on aging.
  • $299.5 million increase to DHS to cover Rehab Services, the Mental Health Division, the Developmental Disabilities Division, substance abuse prevention, and Child Care Assistance, among others.
  • $178.5 million increase to DCFS to hire 123 additional direct service staff, with the goal of improving the state’s caseload ratios. Includes step pay for union employees.
• $19.1 million increase to the Dept. of Public Health, as well as $600 million in new federal funding to address the COVID-19 pandemic.
• $447.4 million increase of state funding and a $780 million increase in federal funding to HFS, covering increased Medicaid liability.
• Most state agencies will remain at or very near level funding compared to the previous year.

The budget also makes the state’s full pension payment.

“Failing to meet this obligation, even in light of our current circumstances, was not an option,” said State Senator Heather Steans (D-Chicago), one of the budget’s lead negotiators. “As we adjust to severely reduced revenues from nearly all sources, it’s our duty to protect our state’s bond rating.”

The governor signed the budget Wednesday, contained within Senate Bill 264 and House Bill 357.