By Dave Dahl

SPRINGFIELD – The state’s fiscal year begins in two weeks. It’s a tight budget year. It’s a tough budget year. It’s a $53.1 billion budget, largest in state history.

Springfield Sangamon Growth Alliance – Thrive in SPI

How do all those statements reside in the same space, Comptroller Susana Mendoza?

“Government has an obligation to provide essential services to the state of Illinois,” said Mendoza. “While $53 billion sounds like a lot of money – and it is – the increase between this year and last year was well below the rate of inflation. So we do have a responsible budget. There are investments that have to be made in the state of Illinois, and particularly when you see those investments, which cost money, being put into areas that have a good return on investment for taxpayers, that’s something that should be applauded.”

Mendoza is trying to back away from statements she made after the budget passed … that she wanted to see “across the board cuts” – a phrase which drew an immediate negative response from the governor’s top aides. She says what she really means is to scrutinize everything to see if it’s really the lowest number possible.

Regardless of what anyone says, the comptroller is not one of the budget-makers.

Dave Dahl can be reached at [email protected].