CHICAGO – The new Fiscal Year 2021 state budget signed into law today provides needed funding for the social services and ensures education remains fully funded in Illinois according to State Senator Sara Feigenholtz (D-Chicago).

“We have a responsibility to protect Illinoisans during this pandemic, and that means preserving the services on which they rely,” Feigenholtz said. “This budget will help guide our state through these challenging times.”

The new state budget includes major investments in social services that provide assistance to Illinoisans who need it most. This includes nearly $180 million in additional funding for the Department of Children and Family Services, which is in severe need of more resources to better care for the state’s children. 

The budget also includes $90 million to provide care for people with developmental disabilities, who have often found themselves isolated from friends and family during the pandemic. Funding was also increased by more than $110 million for the Home Services Program, which helps people with disabilities live independently in their own homes. 

“Now isn’t the time to be cutting resources that support some of the most vulnerable people in our state,” Feigenholtz said. “I’m proud to have voted for a budget that preserves important care for Illinois residents and ensures no one is left behind during this crisis.”

The state’s new budget also preserves funding for P-12 education for a total investment of $12.6 billion, including $7.2 billion for Illinois’ evidence-based funding model. This ensures that schools will not be receiving less in state funding than they did last year.

“Although it’s still unclear what our schools will look like in the fall, it’s critical that we ensure they have the funds they need to help students succeed, whether in the classroom or learning from home,” Feigenholtz said. “This budget keeps our education funding system on track and puts us in a position to continue increasing funding according to the evidence-based formula next year.”

EAST ST. LOUIS – State Senator Christopher Belt (D-Centreville) released the following statement after Gov. JB Pritzker signed a budget that supports the most vulnerable populations and helps people impacted by COVID-19:

“We are well aware that Illinois’ financial recovery will not happen overnight, but with the signing of this budget, we made sure the most disadvantaged communities hit by COVID-19 receive the help they deserve. Seniors will receive additional funding for the Senior Meals Program and the Community Care Program, which allows seniors to stay within the confinements of their home instead of moving to assisted living facilities. 

“Additionally, more than $200 million is set aside to help businesses effected by COVID-19 in downstate communities. Also, people who have been laid off will receive more help from the Department of Employment Security to help address the challenges with the unemployment system. This is a great first step toward our state’s financial recovery.”

SPRINGFIELD – Following the signing of the Illinois FY 2021 budget, State Senator Steve Stadelman (D-Rockford) applauded the preservation of education and local government funding and efforts to address the challenges presented by COVID-19.

“This budget was passed under unusual circumstances, and that cannot be overstated,” Stadelman said. “We had to not only pass a responsible budget, but also address the many challenges the state and its people have faced due to COVID-19.”

Stadelman highlighted that in this budget the state has committed to holding the line for P-12 and higher education funding.

“As a state, we must continue to maintain steady funding for our schools,” Stadelman said. “Districts have had to make significant adjustments due to COVID-19. It was important that we showed our students and educators that they are a priority.”

The budget fully funds the Local Government Distributive Fund. The fund provides local governments with a share of the state’s income tax revenue and will help them make up for budget shortfalls caused by the COVID-19 pandemic.

“Our cities and small towns depend on us to ensure that they have enough funds to serve their residents,” Stadelman said. “Making sure that cities like Rockford receive the funds they need was a top priority for me.”

Despite financial challenges, the budget maintains services for people in need and assists small businesses hit hard by COVID-19. It also includes federal relief dollars for health care and frontline workers.

“This is a budget to help us get through the pandemic,” Stadelman said. “It certainly isn't perfect, but it provides the state with stability until there are better days to come.”

The law is effective July 1, 2020.

CHICAGO – In recognition of the vast economic devastation the COVID-19 outbreak continues to have on underserved communities, Assistant Majority Leader Iris Y. Martinez (D-Chicago) is relieved by the investments made for students, business owners and seniors in next year’s budget, which the governor signed into law Wednesday.

“Because of our state’s current fiscal responsibilities, this budget recognizes Illinois’ commitment to funding essential services for students, employees and seniors,” Martinez said. “By providing vital resources, the state is supporting our residents who need the most help in response to the pandemic.”

The FY 21 budget:

•       Continues to fulfill the state’s commitment to fully fund P-12 and higher education, with an additional $12.7 million going to the Illinois State Board of Education,

•       Appropriates over $600 million in funding for businesses impacted by COVID-19, with grants and other resources specifically for daycare providers and underserved communities,

•       Provides an additional $201.7 million to the Illinois Department on Aging and $28 million in new money to the Community Care Program, which supports seniors who live independently in their homes, and

•       Allocated an additional $32 million in funding for services to immigrant welcoming centers to help recent immigrants get the COVID-19-related help they need.

Another priority of the Illinois Latino Legislative Caucus was passed in the FY 21 budget, which included expanding Medicaid eligibility to low-income undocumented people over 65 years old.

“Expanding Medicaid coverage to undocumented seniors is an additional resource to allow them to prioritize their health and security — not just for themselves and their families, but from financial devastation in the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic,” Martinez said. “Once testing positive, residents should only be worrying about recovery, not about the financial burden related to medical bills.”

In addition, the budget appropriates nearly $60 million in funding to the Department of Employment Security to address the challenges with the unemployment system, allowing the department to hire more staff for assistance on claims.

The FY 21 budget is effective July 1, 2020.

INDIAN HILLS – The state budget signed into law today by Gov. JB Pritzker preserves essential services that Illinoisans need most during the COVID-19 pandemic, State Senator Terry Link (D-Indian Hills) says.

“We returned to Springfield last month to ensure our state’s most important resources remain available for its residents, and that’s what’s in this budget,” Link said. “People are struggling, and now isn’t the time to make cuts that would eliminate services – not when people need them most.”

Illinois’ Fiscal Year 2021 budget includes full funding for P-12 education, a total investment of $12.6 billion. That includes $7.2 billion for the state’s evidence-based funding system, ensuring that school districts won’t be receiving less in state funding than last year.

The budget also holds funding flat for the state’s public colleges and universities, ensuring they won’t be forced to make steep cuts and eliminate services. 

Further, the spending plan once again makes Illinois’ full required pension payment.

“This budget provides stability in the face of the unprecedented challenges the people of Illinois are facing as a result of COVID-19,” Link said. “I’m glad we were able to retain critical services that will help Illinois residents cope with this pandemic.”

SPRINGFIELD – As the state begins a staggered reopening process during the COVID-19 pandemic, State Senator Laura Murphy (D-Des Plaines) was glad to see funding set aside for businesses affected by closures in this year’s state budget, signed into law today.

“Our small businesses not only create jobs and stimulate the local economy—they make our communities unique,” said Murphy. “It’s important that we support them as they reopen after weeks of pandemic-related closures and begin the tough recovery process.”

The state budget for the 2021 fiscal year sets aside more than $600 million in funding for businesses impacted by COVID-19. Specific funds have been allocated for daycare providers and businesses in underserved communities.

To help workers get back on their feet until businesses can reopen, the Department of Employment Security will receive nearly $60 million in additional funding to help address challenges with the unemployment system.

Murphy also highlighted features of the budget that aim to support middle class Illinoisans more broadly, like the preservation of funding for K-12 and higher education, as well as an $871.8 million increase in funding to human services agencies providing aid to seniors, children and families across the state.

“Illinois unemployment is at a record high, but I hope these funds will give business owners, workers and their families the support they need to recover from pandemic-related losses as our state begins to reopen,” said Murphy.

The budget is contained in Senate Bill 264. The governor signed it into law Wednesday, and it takes effect July 1.

SPRINGFIELD – As Illinois continues to grapple with the COVID-19 pandemic, State Senator Laura Fine (D-Glenview) hopes the state’s most vulnerable populations will see relief under a state budget that increases funding to human services agencies providing food, financial assistance and other aid.

“The COVID-19 pandemic hasn’t been easy on anyone, but our seniors and people with disabilities have been hit particularly hard,” said Fine. “I’m pleased to see a budget that prioritizes the human services agencies supporting people through these difficult times.”

The budget includes $86.8 million for the Illinois Department on Aging to provide home-delivered meal services to older adults, who may be unable to access food during the pandemic without significant risk to their health. The budget also increases funding to the Community Care Program by nearly $28 million to help people who might otherwise need to go to an assisted living facility to stay in their homes.

To provide relief to the many people with disabilities who have found themselves ill or isolated from friends and family during this crisis, the budget increases funding to help care for people with developmental disabilities by approximately $90 million. It also increases funding for the Home Services Program, which helps people with disabilities live independent lives in their own homes, by more than $110 million.

“As a result of the virus, supportive government services are needed more now than ever before,” said Fine. “I’m glad to see a state budget that acknowledges the need for the government to step up and provide aid to those hurting.”

The budget is contained in Senate Bill 264. The governor signed it into law Wednesday, and it takes effect July 1.

PEORIA – State Senator Dave Koehler (D-Peoria) offered the following statement in response to the governor’s approval of the state budget for the upcoming year:

“COVID-19 has presented our state with unprecedented challenges to which there are no easy solutions,” Koehler said. “When I returned to Springfield last month to pass a budget for the upcoming year, it was clear we needed to take swift, substantive action to preserve our local businesses and alleviate some of the hardship so many of our residents are facing at this moment.” 

The state’s budget for the upcoming year includes:

• $400 million for local health departments;
• $250 million in CARES Act funding for downstate local governments;
• More than $200 million set aside to help businesses affected by COVID-19 in downstate communities;
• Nearly $80 million for rent and mortgage assistance for people affected by COVID-19 in downstate communities;
• Nearly $60 million in additional funding for the Department of Employment Security to help address the challenges with the unemployment system;
• $10 million for mental health and substance abuse treatment related to COVID-19 in downstate communities.

 “While we have certainly been presented with an unfortunate situation, this is the sort of moment in which the legislature is supposed to step up and do what is right by those who we represent,” Koehler said. “This budget adequately uses the resources we have available to us at the state level to meet our immediate needs without sacrificing vital services.”