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Comptroller Warns State Will Stop Paying If Impasse Continues

Leslie Munger at Inauguration 2015
Brian Mackey
/
NPR Illinois | 91.9 UIS

Illinois Comptroller Leslie Munger, says she will have to stop nearly all state payments if a budget impasse remains unresolved by the end of this month, when the fiscal year ends.

"Nearly all payments will stop on July 1," she said. "There will be very real consequences for taxpayers and organizations. And sadly the situation will be hardest on those most vulnerable, those who can afford it the least."

Democrats in Illinois passed a new budget for the state, but it's billions of dollars out of balance. That has GOP Gov. Bruce Rauner threatening to veto it.

Munger, a Republican who was appointed by the Governor, says she agrees with Bruce Rauner that Illinois needs to restructure the state before considering any new revenue, though Munger refused to specify exactly what they should include. Munger put the blame on the Democratic-led General Assembly, and stood up for Rauner saying, "the governor has been in office five months. The problems that we face today are a result of many years of spending more money than we have brought in. And honestly it's the Gneeral Assembly's job to give the governor a balanced budget."

Democrats' budget relies on a tax increase - which they say it needed to prevent Rauner's “extreme” cuts.House Speaker Michael Madigan has called Rauner's demands for a property tax increase, legislative term limits, and lowering businesses' costs in lawsuits unrelated to the budget, and says that's where the focus should return.

There's little sign of a break in the legislature versus governor stalemate.

While funding for nearly all of state governments' bills, including state employees' paychecks and money owed to schools, vendors, grantees and Medicaid providers, will be halted on July 1 unless a budget it signed into law, Munger says she will be able to cut some checks.

"We will make the state's debt and pension payments. Retirees will still receive their benefit checks. The Temporary Assistance for Needy Families and assistance for the aged, blind and disabled will continue," Munger said, adding that it's because specific appropriations are not necessary for those items.

She also says most of the money the state directs to municipalities, such as through what's known as the Local Government Distributive Fund, would be able to continue.

Amanda Vinicky moved to Chicago Tonight on WTTW-TV PBS in 2017.
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