The State of Illinois needs to contribute a total of $6.8 billion to its five retirement systems in FY2014 to meet statutory funding requirements, according to recent recommendations by the five systems. The proposed total FY2014 contribution amount is $964.7 million, or 16.4%, more than actual FY2013 State contributions of $5.9 billion. The proposed total for FY2014 is also $636.8 million, or 10…
A national report on state budget issues released this week details the ongoing operating budget problems in Illinois and highlights the State’s dire need to invest in its neglected infrastructure. According to the State Budget Crisis Task Force report on Illinois, State and local governments could need to invest more than $300 billion over the next 30 years to maintain depleted roads, bridges,…
The fact that the State of Illinois is no longer behind on paying business income tax refunds is good news for taxpayers and the State budget. But due to an obscure provision of State law, the elimination of the refund backlog also means that the State will distribute an estimated $182 million less in Personal Property Replacement Tax (PPRT) to local governments in FY2013 than in FY2012. As…
Although discussion about the State of Illinois’ annual budget primarily focuses on the operating expenditures the State also appropriates significant funding each year for capital investments. The State approved a $22.7 billion capital budget for FY2013 that is not part of the $33.0 billion General Funds budget enacted for operations. Since FY2005, the State’s capital budget and operating budget…
This analysis of the State of Illinois’ Fiscal Year 2013 budget estimates that projected savings could reduce the State’s existing backlog of $8.9 billion in unpaid bills by roughly $1.3 billion, but warned that the reduction may be difficult to achieve. The budget reflects significant steps to rein in the costs of Medicaid but fails to address the unsustainable costs of the State’s pension…
The State of Illinois’ largest pension fund recently revised several key assumptions that affect the fund’s financial condition and the contributions that must be made by the State under Illinois law. As discussed here, the Board of Trustees of the Teachers’ Retirement System (TRS) approved the changes at a meeting on September 21, 2012. The most significant and widely reported change was a…
A $1-per-pack cigarette tax increase enacted by the State of Illinois in June to help fund the State’s Medicaid program is bringing in far less revenue than originally expected and could fall short of projections by as much as $125.7 million. However, due to the way the tax was enacted it is not expected to have a major impact on Medicaid funding. The Illinois Department of Revenue (IDOR) has…
The State’s largest retirement system voted on September 21, 2012 to reduce its assumed rate of return on investment, a decision that will increase the annual State contribution required by law beginning in FY2014. The Board of Trustees of the Teachers’ Retirement System (TRS) voted 11 to 2 to reduce the assumed rate of return to 8% from 8.5%, according to a news release. As discussed here, a…
Reflecting severe financial pressures, the State of Illinois pushed an estimated $3.6 billion of Medicaid and group health insurance bills from FY2012 into the current fiscal year. The new estimate is based on documents filed in connection with the State’s bond offering on September 13, 2012. The $3.6 billion in deferred bills in FY2012 compares with $1.7 billion in FY2011. As discussed here, a…
Although the State of Illinois is still burdened with a multibillion-dollar backlog of unpaid bills, one component of that backlog—unpaid income tax refunds—is now expected to be eliminated at the end of FY2013. The Illinois Department of Revenue projects that no approved refunds will be unpaid on June 30, 2013. That compares with $735 million owed at the end of FY2010 and…
