By Neil Doyle

BLOOMINGTON – Illinois lawmakers haven’t been in session for over a month and this is normally one of the busiest times of year in Springfield, according to State Sen. Jason Barickman.

So how is any work getting done? Barickman (R-Bloomington) said lawmakers have been split into working groups that meet remotely, via conference call or Zoom.

“The idea that we are all coalescing on is we’ve got to come to some agreements on things that have to be done by the end of the state’s fiscal year, which is June 30,” Barickman said.  “I think everyone puts the state’s budget on the top of the list.”

“I think it’s becoming clear that the budget is going to be incredibly difficult to try and come to an agreement on how you balance it, both for this year and the next fiscal year,” he added.

Barickman said he believes lawmakers will be called to Springfield in either May or June to address the budget.

Gov. JB Pritzker this week said his office projects state revenue to decline by $2.7 billion in the current year and up to $7.4 billion for next year.

Neil Doyle can be reached at [email protected]