Gov. Pat Quinn turned to Illinois residents Wednesday for suggestions on how the state should handle its daunting budget woes.
Quinn’s administration launched a Web site soliciting public input on what funding the state should cut, or whether the state should look to increase its yearly revenue.
The Democratic governor is considering a proposal that would slash state spending next year by about $2 billion, but that would still leave the state facing a budget hole of more than $11 billion.
“Today, we’re asking you to weigh in and help us solve the budget crisis,” David Vaught, director of the Governor’s Office of Management and Budget, said in a video presentation.
“After all, it’s your money and Gov. Quinn believes that together we can get Illinois back on track.”
Illinois is facing an approximately $13 billion shortfall. The governor is expected to offer his plan for the state’s 2011 spending blueprint next month.
In the video, Vaught said the state is facing “tough decisions.”
A solution would likely include a combination of spending cuts, borrowing, help from the federal government and more revenue, Vaught said.
The site, budget.illinois.gov, went live Wednesday afternoon.
State Sen. Maggie Crotty (D-Oak Forest) said she supported Quinn’s move to seek public input. Crotty said she’s “open to everything” when it comes to solving Illinois’ budget problems.
“We can also see how many people are for if there should be revenue increases, or where in the budget they think there can be cuts,” Crotty said of the site.
“It’s a different approach that’s never been used before, but this is a different time.”
Illinois’ current and projected revenue and spending situation is posted on the governor’s new site.
Quinn is scheduled to offer the General Assembly his budget proposal on March 10. From there, the budget will head to state lawmakers to hammer out and pass a spending plan.
Typically, final budget negotiations are done in private and behind closed doors, with time running out on the Legislature’s session.
Rank-and-file lawmakers are generally asked to vote on the budget plan shortly after the final details are worked out among legislative leaders.
Nevertheless, Sen. Toi Hutchinson (D-Olympia Fields) encouraged people to review the governor’s site.
“For the first time in history, anyone who wants to can participate in the budget discussion,” Hutchinson said in a prepared statement.
“Our current economic position is in disarray and people are starting to see the effects from cuts on social service providers, education facilities and countless other programs.”
Patty Schuh, spokeswoman for Senate Republican Leader Christine Radogno, of Lemont, said the governor discussed the budget with legislative leaders Wednesday. Radogno supports the public getting input into the budget, Schuh said.
Whether the public has input or not, the budget situation is “definitely dismal,” state Rep. Will Davis (D-East Hazel Crest) said. Lawmakers should consider a range of revenue increases that could include income, sales tax and service fee increases, Davis said.
“I don’t have a problem with having the conversation about more accountability – about more cuts,” Davis said.
“But we should be able to have that conversation as well as talk about revenue. At some point we’ve got to add revenue to this conversation.”
The Associated Press contributed to this story.
Joe Biesk reporting
Read the original article published on SouthtownStar.com.
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