Statement from Dr. Tasha Green Cruzat on Student Loan Debt Relief

For many Illinois residents, President Joe Biden’s plan to cancel $10,000 of federal student loan debt for low- to middle-income borrowers and double that for Pell Grant recipients is a game changer. According to educationdata.org, 1.6 million student borrowers live in Illinois with an average student loan debt of $37,757. Forgiving part of or all their debt will allow them to save more and use the savings to potentially invest in housing, transportation, or other household needs.

Yet, underlying the student debt is the issue of college affordability. The same site lists Illinois as having the fourth highest average cost of in-state tuition and fees for attendance at a public 4-year institution among U.S. states and the District of Columbia.

As with other states, Illinois decreased its proportion of state funding for the operation of state universities over the years and relied more on tuition. According to the Illinois Board of Higher Education (IBHE), state appropriations on average covered 72% of public university costs vs. 28% from tuition and fees in state Fiscal Year 2002 (FY02)*. By FY20, the state covered just 35.6% of costs vs. 64.4% from tuition and fees.

The estimated total cost of attendance (tuition and fees plus living expenses) for an in-state student at a four-year public university in Illinois was just under $30,000 during FY20. According to IBHE, a low-income student receiving the maximum Monetary Assistance Program grant**, Pell grant, Federal Work Study, and Direct Federal Student loans, without additional scholarships, loans, wages, or family resources, would be $12,000 short in being able to pay for the full cost of attendance at a public university.

Since FY20, the state has increased university funding and provided a significant appropriations boost to the Monetary Assistance Program. There are also several tuition waiver programs at Illinois universities. Still, with family income lost during the pandemic and inflation increasing other household expenses, meeting the financial requirements for attendance at an Illinois university is a challenge for many state residents – often Hispanic, Latino, or African-American residents.

We can do better. Over the years, other states have offered tuition and financial incentives that make it more attractive for many Illinois residents to attend college out of state. Frequently, those students take the skills and knowledge learned at those institutions and apply them to out-of-state companies.

So while many families will see relief from the federal loan forgiveness measure just announced, let’s consider that relief a respite while we keep boosting our investments in Illinois universities and colleges to increase affordability and opportunities.

__________________________________

*A state fiscal year runs from July 1 of the prior year to June 30 of the named year.
**State MAP grants, which do not need to be repaid, are available to eligible Illinois residents who attend approved Illinois colleges and demonstrate financial need (Illinois Student Assistance Commission).

A Statement from Children’s Advocates for Change on the Texas School Shooting

A Statement from Children’s Advocates for Change President,
Dr. Tasha Green Cruzat

A child should not go to school with the expectation of being shot. Once again, we are grieving the loss of young children gunned down at school. The population of Uvalde, Texas is wondering how it could have happened in their community. All of us seem to be accepting the fact that there’s a good chance a child could get killed going to school, while in school, or heading home from school.

Well, as the political activist Angela Davis is said to have once remarked: I am no longer accepting the things I cannot change. I am changing the things I cannot accept.

Children being gunned down is UNACCEPTABLE no matter where it occurs. Just the stress of a child knowing a shooting at school is a possibility is debilitating. That is not to take anything away from the stress that a parent faces, mass shootings of adults, or the rate of homicides in the U.S. by firearms.

Our prayers are with the families of the victims of the Texas shooting. Yet, whatever side of the political spectrum you reside on, let’s jointly commit to safe communities free of gun violence and the necessary legislative steps to create them.

Education Week (Updated: May 24, 2022):

There have been 27 school shootings this year. There have been 119 school shootings since 2018, when Education Week began tracking such incidents. The highest number of shootings, 34, occurred last year. There were 10 shootings in 2020, and 24 each in 2019 and 2018.

The Illinois FY23 Budget Package

Illinois Governor J.B. Pritzker has signed into law a $46 billion budget for fiscal year 2023. The budget is just one piece of a four-bill fiscal package that includes tax relief; makes greater investments in education, health, and public safety; and provides some debt reduction (for the current fiscal year). The legislature also approved the budget much earlier than it has in recent years (normally the end of May) due to an early adjournment date in April because of the shift in the Illinois primary date from March to June.

Approved Financial Package:

SB 2803Unemployment Insurance Trust Fund and Other Measures $4.2 billion
SB 157Tax Relief Provisions$1.8 billion
HB 900FY23 State Budget$46 billion
HB 4700 Budget Implementation Bill (BIMP)

The FY23 budget is built on anticipated revenues of $46.2 billion. Revenue projections for the current and upcoming fiscal year were much brighter than what the state anticipated one year ago. The extension of unemployment benefits, stimulus checks and further federal tax relief, plus greater expenditure on goods versus services (few of which are taxed in Illinois) produced higher than expected revenues for FY22. As a result, The Commission on Government Forecasting and Accountability (COGFA) estimated a net increase to the state of just over $4 billion for FY22. In March, COGFA estimated base revenues for FY23 would begin to decline with shifting consumer patterns and the curtailment of federal stimulus measures. However, there’s also uncertainty regarding the impact of the conflict in Ukraine and inflation.

fy 2022 revenues

SB 2803 Debt Reduction

The budget package does take several large one-time steps to address unpaid state medical bills, a large portion of the state’s Unemployment Insurance Trust Fund deficit, and pension liabilities with funding above the annual certified payments (although the unfunded pension systems liabilities remain high). Additional pension funding and adding $1 billion to the state’s “Rainy Day Fund” (part of SB 157 noted below) were two of the reasons cited by Moody’s  in upgrading the state’s credit rating after the legislative session.

Funding for the state’s Unemployment Insurance Trust Fund generally comes from a payroll tax paid by Illinois business owners with the tax for each business depending on its history of laying off employees. The actual amount paid into the fund and benefits paid out has typically been a negotiated process between business and labor.

When the state runs short of funds, federal law allows it to borrow funds from the federal government. The pandemic brought about a record number of unemployment claims. The state borrowed from the federal government, which netted out to a $4.5 billion deficit.

SB 2803 allocated $2.7 billion of the American Rescue Plan funds received by the state from the federal government towards repayment of borrowed funds. According to lawmakers, the means of addressing the remaining $1.8 billion deficit (which could be addressed through increased payroll taxes, reduced benefits, allocation of General Revenue Funds, or issuance of a long-term bond) will be negotiated.

SB 2803 also allocated General Revenue Funds in the following amounts to address other financial issues:

  • $898 million for unpaid state group health insurance bills.
  • $280 million for unfunded College Illinois program liabilities. This prepaid tuition program stopped taking new applications in 2017 (and also did so in 2011) as liabilities outstripped projected payment needs.
  • $300 million for the state’s pension funds. The legislature approved this payment as an addition to the scheduled Fiscal Year 2023 payments approved in HB 900 (along with an additional $200 million). According to the Governor’s budget office, the $300 million alone will save the state $1 billion between now and 2045.

SB 157 Tax Relief Provisions

This component of the budget package provides a significant amount of tax relief – in total. The exact benefit to each Illinois resident will depend on the resident’s economic circumstances. Many of the provided tax relief measures are one-time. A significant permanent relief measures is the increase and expansion of the state’s Earned Income Tax Credit. It’s quite possible a household could still face increasing costs due to inflation and supply shortages after some of the benefits detailed below expire. However, the legislature can also take up additional steps when it returns either for the fall veto session after the election or spring legislative session early next year.

Recognizing the financial circumstances faced by many Illinois households because of job losses/reduced hours due to the pandemic, ending federal stimulus benefits, and increasing inflation, the legislature approved a set of tax breaks and rebates totaling $1.8 billion.

  • Property Tax Rebate: Illinois homeowners can now take as an income tax credit 5% of a property tax bill on a principal residence. SB 157 provides a rebate to these homeowners of the lesser of the credit taken or $300 per principal residence.
  • Additional Rebate Checks to Households (income less than $200,000 for individuals or $400,000 if filing joint return): $50 single filers, $100 spouses filing joint return, $100 for each of up to 3 dependents claimed on a federal tax return.
  • Increases and expands eligibility for the state’s Earned Income Tax Credit: Increases the credit amount in 2023 from 18% of a taxpayer’s federal EITC to 20%; expands eligibility for individuals 18-25 years old, 65 years old or older, individuals using an ITIN (individual taxpayer identification number) rather than a social security number.
  • Suspends scheduled increase in state’s gas tax from July 1st-December 31st. (Now 39.2 cents/gallon; savings of approximately 2.4 cents/gallon. Scheduled to increase January 1, 2023 by rate of inflation as of September 2022.)
  • Suspends for 1 year the state’s 1 % grocery tax (on food for human consumption off sale premises)
  • School Supply Holiday: Suspends the state’s 5% sales tax (another 1.25% is collected and distributed to local governments) from August 6th – August 15th for certain clothing items, sports equipment, and school supplies.
  • Increases maximum income tax credit for instructional supplies from $250 to $500 in 2023.

SB 157 also adds an additional $200 million to the Pension Stabilization Fund (above the required annual pension contributions and the $300 million to the Pension Stabilization Fund noted above) and places $1 billion of General Revenue Funds in the state’s Budget Stabilization Fund.  Sometimes referred to as the “Rainy Day Fund”, this fund is designed to hold monies the state may need to address a budget shortfall due to an economic downturn or unforeseen expenditures during a fiscal year[1].

HB 900 FY22 Supplemental Appropriations and FY23 State Budget

HB 900 represents the bulk of the approved appropriations as supplemental funding for FY22 and for the FY23 budget. There’s a significant investment in public safety and the Department of Children and Family Service along with further enhancement for housing and medical services. In a number of cases, the investments represent increases in available grant funding for community organizations and thus do not permanently increase the state employee headcount.

HB 900 contains supplemental appropriations for the current fiscal year, which ends June 30th and appropriations for Fiscal Year 2023. The bill also contains funding for state capital projects. While the chart below reflects General Revenue Fund expenditures, there are also expenditures from state and federal trust funds.

FY23 Budget (in millions)

fy23 expenditures

Source: Illinois Office of Management and Budget

Education

PreK-12 Education

The largest category of General Revenue Fund expenditures is for education. The budget continues the commitment made by elected officials in 2017 to add an additional $3.5 billion over ten years to fund the state’s evidence-based school aid formula with the addition of $350 million this year. (Total funding for the evidence-based formula in FY23 is $7.6 billion[2].) The formula is designed to provide greater resources to school districts most in need determined by using a formula that looks takes into account an adequacy target for educating all of a district’s students, local financial resources, total attendance, number of low-income students, number of special education students, and the number English learner students.

In addition to the evidence-based funding, there is an appropriation of $5 billion in federal COVID-19 relief education funds received by the state to local school districts. These funds are primarily designated to meet the needs of low-income and underserved students with anticipated expenditures ranging from helping schools mitigate the public health impact of COVID-19, providing mental health services to students, investments in internet services and laptops, summer programs, tutoring, and other related services.

The budget also contains a $54.4 million increase for Early Childhood Education, which includes a $49.2 million increase to Early Childhood Education line item plus:

  • $1.9 million for a contract with National Louis University for Monitoring Preschool for All and Preschool for All Expansion programs.
  • $1.4 million for a contract with Illinois Action for Children for community systems development work.
  • $1.9 million for a grant to the Center for Professional Learning to provide technical assistance to Preschool for All and Preschool for All Expansion programs.
Higher Education

HB 900 provides a five percent increase to the operating budget for state universities and community colleges (both in FY22 and FY23). There is a $122 million increase or 25% increase to the state’s Monetary Award Program, which provides grants to eligible Illinois residents who attending an approved Illinois college. According to the Governor’s office, this will allow the state to serve an additional 24,000 students.

Last year, the state enacted the Early Childhood Access Consortium for Equity Act. It is designed to help increase the number of early childhood workers by streamlining, coordinating, and improving the accessibility to degree completion pathways at institutions of higher education. The FY23 budget contains the following funding related to the Act:

  • Grants and Administrative Costs Associated with Early Childhood Programs-Illinois Community College Board:   $50 million
  • Financial Assistance and Administrative Costs Associated with Early Childhood Programs-Illinois Student Assistance Commission: $120 million
  • Grant and Administrative Costs Associated with Early Childhood Programs and Consortium-Board of Higher Education:   $60 million

Illinois Department of Children and Family Services

For decades, the Illinois Department of Children and Family Services (DCFS) has been under a federal consent decree requiring it to increase staffing to meet adequate service and caseload levels. In addition, an outside review of DCFS operations by Chapin Hall at the University of Chicago in 2019 found “systemic influences that create barriers to effective service delivery to Intact families, including interrelated structural, procedural, and cultural challenges”[3].

The agency made a commitment to address by the staffing and Chapin Hall issues. At the same time, it has seen a dramatic increase in recent years in children under its care.

dcfs caseload

Source: Illinois Department of Children and Family Services

The FY23 budget contains an agency budget increase of $250 million for DCFS budget to hire additional personnel, provide rate increases and increase residential capacity. Including:

  • A $99.1 million increase for foster homes and specialized foster care and
  • An $11.6 million increase for adoption and guardianship services

The budget also includes $500,000 for a rate study.

Illinois Department of Human Services

In addition to the use of $2.7 billion in federal COVID-19 relief funds for the Unemployment Insurance Trust Fund noted above, the state legislature approved the use of an additional $1.37 billion in federal COVID-19 relief funds to various state agencies[4]. This includes $235 million to the Department of Human Services (DHS) for violence prevention grants through the Reimagine Public Safety Act. As noted by DHS on its website: The Reimagine Public Safety Act (RPSA) calls for a comprehensive approach to reducing firearm violence through targeted community investments[5]. (The budget also contains $5 million in General Revenue Funds for the grants.)

Funding for the Child Care Assistance Program is level with a $1 million increase for the Great START (Strategy to Attract and Retain Teachers) Program,  which is designed to increased professional training and retention of child care personnel in state-licensed centers and homes.

dhs child care funding

There is also a $2 million appropriation for a new Off-Hours Child Care Program. Created under HB 1571, the program is designed to help first responders and other workers identify and access off-hours, night, or sleep time child care.

Below are just a few of the funding increases for programs serving young children:

  • Early Intervention Program – $7 million GRF increase
  • Maternal and Child Home Visiting Program (Parents Too Soon) – additional $480,000
  • Healthy Families – additional $536,000

Some of the additional funding items impacting families generally include:

  • A $50.5 million increase for domestic violence shelters and services
  • A $20 million General Revenue Funds increase for Welcoming Centers, designed as one-stop human service centers designed to help immigrants navigate state services and coordinate those state services with non-profit community social services. (Total GRF funding $25 million plus $80 million from the DHS State Projects Fund.) There is also an increase of $40 million for Refugee Settlement Services.
  • $88 million for grants and administrative expenses associated with the national opioid settlement
  • $120 million for Eviction Mitigation Program and Other Social Services (same as FY22 funding) from the DHS Federal Projects Fund.

HB 4700     Budget Implementation (BIMP) Bill

To fully implement the budget, the state generally also passes a bill that makes necessary fund transfers and statutory changes. Just a few of the provisions in this year’s BIMP bill include:

  • Creation of Office of Opioid Settlement Administration
  • Direction for a DCFS rate study
  • Increased reimbursement rates for community-based substance use disorder treatment and intervention

The Road Ahead

As noted in this blog post a number of the tax breaks, rebates, and expenditures are one-time measures made possible by stronger than expected state revenues and federal assistance. Earlier this month, the U.S. Department of Labor reported that the 12-month increase in the Consumer Price Index up to March 2022 (or the rate of inflation) was 8.5%, the fastest annual gain since December of 1981[6]. Going into 2023, the questions will be how will Illinois families deal with any continuing inflation (impacting -among other items- food, housing and transit costs) as certain federal and state financial assistance measures end, will Congress pass any additional COVID-19 or economic relief legislation, and what post-election steps will Illinois state government take to address the situation.

Written by Mitch Lifson

[1] Among the other provisions of the bill are measures regarding the state’s EDGE (Economic Development for a Growing Economy) Tax Credit, the Film Production Services Tax Credit, the Live Theater Tax Credit, biodiesel, hospitals, an employer tax credit for allowing employees to take paid leave of at least 30 days to serve as an organ donors, breast pumps, and agritourism.

[2]  There is also an increase of $87.5 million in funding to the evidence-based formula to correct what the state says was a past miscalculation resulting in an overpayment to the Chicago Public Schools. The amount would be paid to other school districts that would have received additional funding under the formula. The state is asking CPS to repay the amount: https://www.nbcchicago.com/news/local/illinois-officials-ask-chicago-public-schools-to-repay-87m-it-mistakenly-received-over-3-years/2805769/

[3] https://www.chapinhall.org/research/dcfs-child-fatality-cases/

[4] Press Release, Office of the Governor, April 19, 2022

[5] https://www.dhs.state.il.us/page.aspx?item=141096

[6] https://www.cnbc.com/2022/04/12/consumer-prices-rose-8point5percent-in-march-slightly-hotter-than-expected.html

What About Renters?

Since tax year 1983, the state of Illinois has offered individual income tax filers property tax relief for real estate taxes paid on a principal residence. Currently, single filing taxpayers with incomes up to $250,000 (and $500,000 for taxpayers married filing jointly) can receive a credit on their income taxes worth 5% of real estate taxes paid for the tax year. For tax year 2018, just over 2 million tax filers took the property tax credit for an amount totaling nearly $513 million dollars.

In this proposed budget for Fiscal Year 2023, Governor J.B. Pritzker proposed a one-time additional property tax rebate of up to $300. This rebate is estimated to cost the state $475 million.

Yet, according to 2019 census data of Illinois occupied housing units, one-third of occupied housing units are rental-occupied units versus owner-occupied units. Furthermore, 73% of white non-Latinx residents in occupied housing units lived in owner-occupied units versus just 34% of African-Americans living in owner-occupied units.

housing-occupancy

 

Individuals in rental units do not benefit directly from the tax relief provided to homeowners through the property tax credit. While it is possible a building owner receiving some property tax relief may pass it on to renting tenants, there is no guarantee of that.

Twenty-three states and Washington, D.C., address similar situations with some form of a renter’s credit or deduction. Some apply the credit to just seniors or the disabled, but others provide a credit that may be based on a percentage of rent paid or the actual rent paid up to a maximum level. For example, Wisconsin allows qualifying renters (those with household income less than $24,680 for 2021) a credit that can reach a maximum value of $1,168. Indiana allows qualifying tax filers to deduct up to $3,000 or the amount of rent paid, whichever is less, on the state’s income tax form.

Midwestern states and renter’s credits*

IndianaRenters whose unit is subject to property taxes can deduct up to $3,000.
IowaRent reimbursement program for those 65 or older or at least 18 with a disability, with a household income less than $24,354. Reimbursement varies by income.
MichiganA credit for qualifying households where the percentage of rent attributable to property taxes (determined to be 23%) exceeds 3.2% of total household resources ($60,600 or less to qualify). Sixty percent of determined value. Higher rates for seniors and the disabled. Maximum value $1,500.
MinnesotaApplies to renters whose income is less than $64,920. Refund based on 17% of rent paid. Maximum refund amount $2,210. Unit subject ot property taxes.
MissouriApplies to individuals 65 or older, or disabled, with household income $27,500 (single filers) or less. Unit must be subject to property taxes. Value varies by income. Maximum credit value of $750.
WisconsinIncome less than $24,680. Unit subject to property taxes. Value varies on income. Maximum credit is $1,168.

*Additional conditions may apply.

These provisions allow many renters in those states to deal with housing cost burdens – which depending on your income level can be very high. Usually, lower-income households face the greater housing burden. For Illinois households with incomes between $10,000 and $20,000 in 2019, 80% spent 30% or more of their income on rent. That compares to just 4.3% of Illinois residents with incomes of $75,000 or more spending 30% or more of their income on rent. Furthermore, when an examination is of pre-pandemic data of all renters by race and ethnicity, a far greater percentage of African-American and Latinx low-income renters are paying more than 30% of their income in rent.

 

High housing costs can lead to housing instability. A study by Boston Medical Center found three forms of housing instability (being behind on rent, multiple moves, and a history of being homeless) were associated with adverse caregiver and child health among low-income renter households[1].

If Illinois offered a housing tax credit, similar to the property tax credit, to individuals at or below 200% of the Federal Poverty Level, who have lived in Illinois for at least half the year and are paying more than 30% of their income towards rent – the Institute on Taxation and Economic Policy estimates it would cost the state $171 million annually -probably less depending on how many tax filers claim the credit.

illinois rent burden

 

Currently, Illinois offers a Rental Payment Program with financial assistance for rent to income-eligible Illinois renters and their landlords who have been impacted by the pandemic. It is not designed to assist with rental costs going forward. The Illinois Department of Human Services offers a homeless prevention program and emergency housing assistance to those at risk of becoming homeless. There are federal programs offering vouchers to eligible families, but the Center on Budget and Policy Priorities estimates just one in four potentially eligible families received any type of rental assistance before the pandemic[2].

As we emerge from the pandemic, a time that also saw a sharp increase in demand for home sales that has impacted the rental market, even more individuals will likely face challenges in meeting their rent payments. Across the United States, rents last month were 17.6% higher than they were in February 2021. That increase is the fastest growth rate in the past 20 years[3]. Given the stark difference by race in home ownership, with more than half of the Illinois African-American owner-occupied units rentals, it is important to provide a renter’s income tax credit if Illinois is going to address racial and ethnic economic inequities. A renter’s credit would help more individuals facing a rental cost burden, create greater equity with housing income tax credits, and create more housing stability for parents and children. It should be part of the final budget package the legislature approves for Fiscal Year 2023.

Written by Mitch Lifson

[1] Sandel M, Sheward R, Ettinger de Cuba S, et al.;Unstable Housing and Caregiver and Child Health in Renter Families. Pediatrics. 2018;141(2):e20172199

[2] Fischer, Will, Sonya Acosta, and Erik Gartland; “More Housing Voucers: Most Important Step to Help More People Afford Stable Homes”, Center on Budget and Policy Priorities, May 13, 2021.

[3] Hernandez, Kristian; “As Rents Soar, States Take Aim and Local Zoning Rules”; Stateline; March 15, 2022.

 

Proposed Fiscal Year 2023 State Budget

Illinois Governor J.B. Pritzker has proposed a Fiscal Year 2023 (FY23) general funds state budget that provides tax relief; makes additional investments in education, health, and public safety; and shores up state finances. It directly appropriates for FY23 a small portion of remaining federal COVID-19 relief funds received by the state for general fiscal recovery, but it leaves open the question of how to appropriate several billion dollars more of such relief.

The proposed operating budget for FY23, which begins on July 1st, totals around $44 billion. However, that is before a set of transfers out of the general funds. Those transfers, along with anticipated unspent appropriations, bring the total expenditures proposed for the next fiscal year to approximately $45.4 billion.

Source: Governor’s Office of Management and Budget

In addition to the proposed spending for FY23, the Governor is proposing additional, or supplemental, appropriations for the current fiscal year (FY22) that ends June 30th. Those supplemental appropriations total just under $3 billion and include $898 million to pay a backlog of state employee and retiree health insurance bills, $230 million to address an unfunded liability in the College Illinois! 529 Prepaid Tuition program, and an additional $68 million for public universities and community colleges.

The Governor also proposes transferring an additional $300 million in FY22 for the state pension funds and $600 million into the Budget Stabilization Fund (or what is often referenced as the state’s “rainy day” fund)[1]. Further proposed FY22 transfers revolve around the Governor’s proposed tax relief package, which he is calling the “Illinois Family Relief Plan”[2]. Between FY22 and FY23, these expenditures would total just over $1 billion. Included is:

  • A one-year freeze on the scheduled cost of living increase to the state’s motor fuel tax (saving consumers an estimated 2.2 cents per gallon). Estimated cost is $153 million.
  • A one-year suspension of the state’s sales tax on groceries, which is 1% on qualifying foods. Totaling $360 million, these funds actually go to local governments (municipalities or, in the case of unincorporated areas, counties). The Governor proposes an appropriation to local governments to make up for the loss.
  • A one-time property tax rebate to Illinois homeowners (beginning in July) up to $300 based on the taxpayers 2021 state income tax return. (The rebate applies only to those currently eligible for the 5% income tax credit for property taxes paid – which is for individuals with adjusted gross incomes of less than $250,000 or $500,000 for married filing jointly taxpayers). This rebate is estimated to cost the state $475 million.
  • A one-year waiver of license fees for frontline healthcare workers as well as liquor license fees for bars and restaurants. Estimated cost is $38 million.

While the state, Illinois local governments, state healthcare providers, and Illinois institutions of higher learning will receive an estimated total of $51.9 billion from the the six federal COVID-19 relief packages passed since March 2020, about $8.1 billion is for the state to use on COVID-19 related expenditures and replacement of revenue lost as a result of the pandemic[3].

The FY22 budget includes $2.8 billion of that amount for government expenditures in infrastructure, violence prevention, education, health care, housing and economic recovery programs. The state also reserved about $1.5 billion to replace lost revenues. Of the remaining amount, the FY23 budget proposes use of $235 million for violence prevention grants and $200 million for COVID-19 related responses by the Illinois Department of Human Services, Illinois Department of Corrections and the Illinois Emergency Management Agency. (Expenditure of the $8.1 billion must occur before December 21, 2024).

Starting from the $8.1 billion in federal funds the state received for pandemic related expenditures and revenue replacement, that leaves an unspecified balance of just under $3.4 billion. While not designating the funds for an expressed purpose, the Governor does note in his budget that to pay pandemic related unemployment benefits the state had to borrow funds for the U.S. Department of Labor for the state’s Unemployment Trust Fund. Those borrowed funds, which the state needs to repay, currently total $4.5 billion with interest accruing on the amount. The Governor notes his administration has begun meetings with legislators, business leaders, and labor leaders to find “the most appropriate solution for repaying the federal government.[4]”

Below are some of the programs specific to children. These do not include the entire range of state programs serving residents 18 and under.

Education

Among the notable education expenditures in the proposed FY23 budget are:

  • Increased funding for the state’s evidence-based school funding formula of $350 million (for a total of $7.9 billion). This formula was revised in 2017 with the goal of adding $3.5 billion into state school funding over the next ten years to help reduce inequities in school funding.
  • Appropriation of remaining federal education funds received as part of the COVID-19 relief legislative measures. Illinois received $7.87 billion in COVID-19 federal Elementary and Secondary School Relief funds -most of which flows directly to school districts with high low-income populations. The state has already invested $1.82 billion of those funds.
  • Increased funding for the early Childhood Block Grant of $54.4 million. According to the Governor’s budget book, this will allow the state to service an additional 7,100 children.
  • An additional $68 million for public universities and community colleges (on top of the increase for FY22 noted above).
  • An increase of $122 million to the Monetary Award Program, which assists Illinois residents with tuition and fees at Illinois colleges and universities (including community colleges). According to the Governor’s office, this will allow the state to increase the maximum grant award to 50% of the average cost of tuition and fees at an Illinois public university.

Department of Children and Family Services

Prior to the pandemic, the Illinois Department of Children and Family Services was working to meet the provisions of a federal consent decree on cases per worker and dealing with a surging caseload. The FY19 agency headcount was 2,758. With increases since then, the FY23 budget requests places the proposed funded headcount at 3,416 with $15.5 million proposed to hire an additional 360 staff.


Source: Department of Children and Family Services
Overall, the proposed agency budget is $253.8 million higher than the FY22 expected expenditures with the following measures included:

  • $87.1 million to reform the rate structure for private sector providers to address staffing shortages.
  • A 3% cost-of-living adjustment for foster caregivers. (The proposed budget also includes a cost-of-living adjustment for DCFS staff and union step increase.)
  • $25 million to increase the capacity for youth placement in the most clinically appropriate settings.
  • $7 million for a redesigned independent living program to better support youth transitioning out of DCFS care.


Source: Department of Children and Family Services

Department of Human Services

Compared to the current fiscal year, child care funding remains consistent with the Department of Human Services indicating the funding will support increasing provider rates (includes Center rates) of 3.5% effective July 1, 2022, and another 4.5% on December 1, 2022.

Source: Governor’s Office of Management and Budget

 

  • During the last two years, the state awarded more than $750 million in Child Care Restoration Grants and Child Care Workforce Bonuses to over 11,000 providers. The FY23 budget, appropriates another $300 in childcare funding to continue what it calls restoration efforts.
  • Funding for the state’s early intervention program remains level compared to FY22.
  • General revenue funding for homeless youth services increases slightly from $6.28 million to $6.4 million.

Health Care

As with other states, the pandemic has strained Illinois’ healthcare system. Yet, even before the pandemic, legislators and others recognized existing racial and ethnic disparities regarding infant mortality, diabetes, strokes, and other health conditions. In April of 2021, the Governor signed legislation encompassing health care reforms put forward by the Illinois Legislative Black Caucus. Among the measures was language that creates a certification for community health workers to act as liaisons between communities and health care/social service programs. The FY23 proposed budget includes $2.5 million for the program.

The budget also has the Department of Healthcare and Family Services reinvesting $180 million to “preserve and grow the healthcare workforce, with a focus on Medicaid providers and providers in underserved areas.”[5] It notes the funding would be for recruitment, staff bonuses, and continuing education trainings.

The legislature will take up the budget with a scheduled adjournment date of April 8th. With appropriation hearings already scheduled, Children’s Advocates for Change will be following these proceedings and providing updates on committee reviews and further proposals.

Written by Mitch Lifson

 

[1] The proposed budget than calls for transferring an additional $200 million above the required pension contributions for FY23.

[2] Proposed transfers include $425 million to fund property tax rebates and $285 million to fund to address the suspension of the sales tax on groceries.

[3] Unlike money the state received from the federal government for specific purposes such as health care, child care or housing assistance, there is (within the general framework) more discretion in the use of these funds awarded under the federal Coronavirus State Fiscal Recovery Fund.

[4] Proposed FY23 budget p. 58

[5] Governor’s proposed FY23 budget, p. 30

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