By IL Public Radio
Springfield, IL – Governor Pat Quinn says he'll dish out some "tough news" when he presents his budget plan next week.
Illinois' finances are coming up at least nine billion dollars short... but Quinn says he will present a balanced budget. And to do so ... Quinn says some state government "frills" will have to go away. He won't rule out layoffs. "I would have to say, that whatever needs to be done in the area of saving money for the taxpayers will be done. Uh, this is the worst economic crisis that any of us who are here today have ever had."
In addition to making cuts, to close the budget gap Quinn will have to find a way to bring in more money. Quinn won't say if that means a tax increase. But at the least it likely means tax changes. He hinted at giving breaks to low income families, by offering them generous personal exemptions.
Quinn also says he will introduce a way to raise another 25-billion dollars to be spent on construction projects. The governor was mum about how he'll come up with that cash. But he did reject raising the gasoline sales tax, calling that plan "regressive."
