As the long state budget impasse goes on and on in Illinois, revenue is falling while costs keep rising. That was the warning Wednesday from state Comptroller Leslie Munger at a stop in Moline, during her latest tour of the state to draw attention to the problem.
Munger says even though the state is receiving millions of dollars in revenue, it has bills totaling 7 billion dollars that it can't pay.
And that doesn't even include the millions Illinois should be paying for higher education and other programs, plus the unfunded pension liability.
She says it's time for state leaders to "put the state first" and work out a balanced budget.
Munger says in just the first half of the fiscal year, the state of Illinois has accrued 190 million dollars in late fees and fines, and by the end of the year, that total could reach 400 million.
The solution, in her opinion, will include raising the state income tax, cutting state spending, and convincing businesses to stay, and expand, in Illinois.
