By Eric Stock
BLOOMINGTON – With less than a week before the state legislature is scheduled to adjourn, State Rep. Dan Brady, R-Bloomington, said he’s cautiously optimistic a budget deal is imminent.
Brady is part of a working group of lawmakers that legislative leaders appointed last week to work out a budget framework. He says Gov. Bruce Rauner has already conceded parts of his Turnaround Agenda, scaling back demands on collective bargaining, workers compensation and a property tax freeze.
PODCAST: Listen to Scott’s interview with Brady on WJBC.
“It’s a little start,” Brady said. “Given the environment the governor is working (on a) political framework, you are going to have to understand that might be as close as you are going to get coming from the Democrat majority.”
The panel is looking at about $5 billion in tax increases along with $2.7 billion in cuts.
“Those revenues are the big ‘T’ word in taxes,” Brady said. “That is going to be something that will be very contentious to say the least.”
The panel is looking at an income tax increase which would approach 2014 levels before the temporary tax expired. The plan also calls for 2-point-7 billion dollars in cuts.
Brady added the budget plan – if approved – would ‘backfill’ some of the money that the state’s agencies and vendors are owed – but not all of it.
Lawmakers are still ironing out the details ahead of a scheduled May 31 adjournment.
Eric Stock can be reached at [email protected].
