The Illinois Home passed a $40 billion state budget late Saturday that relies heavily on federal funding.
The Chicago Tribune reported the spending strategy for the spending budget year that begins July 1 now heads to the Senate. The spending budget passed on a largely party-line vote of 68-44.
The coronavirus pandemic that prompted Gov. J.B. Pritzker to problem a statewide stay-at-home order left companies across the state closed. In between that and also the 1 million Illinois residents out of work by the pandemic, lawmakers say the state will have just under $37 billion in income. As a result, lawmakers looked to Washington to fill the hole within the budget.
Also Saturday, the Home passed legislation pushed by Chicago Mayor Lori Lightfoot to change the tax structure for a casino in the city.
The legislation would also extend from two to six years the quantity of time casino owners would need to make a reconciliation payment. The Tribune reported that the legislation also delays by a year, until July 1, 2021, the time by which gaming applicants must pay license fees.
The measure moved to the Senate.
“The concept is to make this function for Chicago so we are able to fund the vertical capital, place people to function, not only for Chicago but for everywhere in the state of Illinois,” said sponsoring Rep. Bob Rita, a Blue Island Democrat. “This is good for everyone for jobs and improvement – getting a Chicago casino be real.”