As a businessman, I understand budgets very well. I have prepared budgets for my company and home. Budgets represent spending priorities.
In Illinois, budgets have prioritized unions at the expense of citizens.
“Democrats don’t win without organized labor, and organized labor puts everything at risk when Democrats don’t win. We gotta stick together,” Illinois Senate President Don Harmon said at an Illinois delegation breakfast during the Democratic National Convention. Harmon’s commitment to labor is unquestionable. Often, government requires union labor for projects, which drives up costs. For example, the Jane Byrne Interchange was originally expected to cost $535.5 million. Overruns drove the final cost to $806.4 million.
Also, elected leaders have given priority to migrants over the citizens who elected them. Chicago has spent more than $400 million on migrants over the past two years, according to NBC affiliate WMAQ-Ch. 5. There is no doubt that expenditures on asylum-seekers has contributed to the city and state’s fiscal woes.
Mayor Brandon Johnson’s administration recently informed Chicagoans of a $982 million budget gap for 2025. For as long as I can remember, there have been projections of budget shortfalls but never surpluses. Dire predictions often follow — of raising taxes, fines and fees and implementing layoffs to close shortfalls.
The finances of the City of the Big Shoulders and the Land of Lincoln are cause for anxiety. Our economic fundamentals are not strong. Gov. JB Pritzker, Illinois House Speaker Emanuel “Chris” Welch, Harmon, Johnson, Cook County Board President Toni Preckwinkle and all Democrats must work together to implement policies that will restore confidence and fiscal health to Illinois. Illinois has a high corporate tax rate at 7%, as well as high property and gasoline taxes. Chicago’s pension debt soared last year to $37.2 billion. The state’s pension debt is around $140 billion. In a recent CNBC report of the 10 worst U.S. state economies in 2024, Illinois ranked nine. High taxes drive out citizens. I have not purchased gasoline in Chicago for nearly 30 years because of high taxes.
Recently, the Tribune Editorial Board analyzed a recent report from the Illinois Commission on Government Forecasting and Accountability, which showed “annualized real gross domestic product in Illinois fell 1.3% in the first three months of 2024.” Illinois ranked in the bottom six among states with the worse GDP growth in the first quarter of 2024. Every state around Illinois managed to generate GDP growth, except Iowa. “Since the end of 2019, just before the pandemic, Illinois has generated real GDP growth of just 2.8%,” according to the board.
“The size of the budget gap is significant. It’s going to require decisions that will speak to our overall collective desire to build an economy that works for working people. There will be sacrifices that will be made,” Johnson told reporters last week.
The people of Chicago and Illinoisans have already made sacrifices. Chicagoans pay some of the highest taxes in the nation, and children in public schools are scoring low in reading and math. Currently, the Chicago Teachers Union is negotiating a contract with Chicago Public Schools. It is requesting a 9% pay increase and CPS has offered between 4% and 5%. I believe pay increases should be performance-based and tied to student achievement. Johnson, a former CTU member, must negotiate the best deal for Chicago taxpayers.
Too many neighborhoods are being terrorized by gun violence, robberies and other crimes. Citizens are sleeping under bridges and in parks while asylum-seekers are put in hotels. According to an old saying attributed to farmers: “If you find yourself in a hole, the first thing to do is stop digging.”
The following are suggestions for dealing with the budget shortfall:
- City and state leaders should meet to discuss implementing legislative polices such as cutting taxes to spur business growth and keep citizens shopping in Illinois.
- Johnson, Pritzker and Preckwinkle must work with public unions to get pensions under control.
- Pritzker, Johnson and Preckwinkle should rescind pay increases for elected officials and redirect that money to help struggling citizens.
- Pritzker, Johnson and Preckwinkle should institute zero-based budgeting and examine every line item in their budgets for waste.
- Pritzker, Johnson and Preckwinkle should demand the lowest price bids and high-quality products when purchasing for their units of government.
The union bosses are running the city, county and state. They influence elected officials through unlimited political contributions and foot soldiers for campaigns. Politicians then repay unions with favorable legislation and contracts.
The debt crisis in Illinois is real, and it cannot be fixed by raising taxes, fines and fees. That will drive citizens and businesses out. According to the U.S. Census Bureau, 31,000 Illinois residents moved to Indiana between 2022 and 2023. Illinois Democrats must summon the courage and will to put the people of Illinois ahead of their own self-interest.
I write this commentary to make those comfortable with neglecting the debt crisis and Illinois residents uncomfortable.
Willie Wilson is a business owner, philanthropist and former mayoral candidate.
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