November 19, 2014

By Jim Nowlan
Outside Columnist

In less than three months, governor-elect Bruce Rauner has to present a budget that is balanced—and do so with $4 billion less available revenue than is in the present $35 billion general funds budget, because of the automatic January 1 rollback of much of the 2011 income tax increases.

It will be a difficult task. Indeed, I think it will be nigh impossible. I wish it were otherwise as a lower tax burden would make our state more competitive.

Some background: State government has already been trimming operating expenses. For example, state government employment fell from 87,000 in 2002 to about 64,000 this past year, more than a quarter of the workforce.

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