Will County Gazette

Rep. Jackie Haas (R-Kankakee) was not impressed by Gov. J.B. Pritzker's State of the State and Budget Address.

“Illinois families are fighting uphill battles on many fronts and this budget proposal does nothing to address it," Haas said on her website. "When our residents see in their household budgets that they’re spending more than they’re making, they cut costs and make sacrifices. Lawmakers could learn a thing or two from our constituents, and that should show in this budget proposal. Increased funding pressures will drive deficit spending, increasing taxes and not addressing our dreadful fiscal climate.”

Pritzker’s 2023 Fiscal Budget  provides $350 million to K-12 public schools.

As part of his Smart Start Illinois plan, Pritzker is calling for access to preschool for all 3- and 4-year-olds by increasing funding for the Early Childhood Block Grant program by $75 million. "In the first year alone, 5,000 more seats will be available for children across the state."

With his newly proposed budget set to cover the 2024 fiscal year that begins on July 1, Pritzker said that the state's short-term and medium-term liabilities have been eliminated and called for an additional $200 million to the pension stabilization fund.

“We’ve achieved our state’s strongest fiscal position in generations, and we prioritized the education, public safety, health, and welfare of the residents of Illinois,” Pritzker said, according to Chalkbeat Chicago.

The budget also includes $100 million to build facilities to house expanded educational programs. There's $70 million to expand participation in childcare for parents who need to work or attend school by increasing the income threshold, and $20 million to revamp the provider-payment system.