IGPA Examines State’s Fiscal Health

A NEW report released by the University of Illinois Institute of Government and Public Affairs (IGPA) analyzes the future of the State's deficit, and examines several outcomes for different policy options.

PUBLISHED EVERY year, The Illinois Report presents nonpartisan analysis of public policy issues facing Illinois.

“I THINK you will be particularly interested in our chapter on the fiscal health of the State,” said Kelsey McCoy, Communication Specialist, IGPA. “The authors found that the combination of increased income taxes, large cuts in spending, and the effect of a gradually improving economy will decrease the deficit to an estimated $4.9 billion in FY2013 and a projected $1.6 billion in 2014. They also demonstrate that:

• Holding Medicaid expenditures to the rate of inflation would decrease spending by $3 billion by 2020.
• Avoiding getting farther behind on pension liabilities would cost an extra $1 billion to $2 billion for each of the next 10 years.

SEE http://igpa.uillinois.edu/IR13/chap02.php. For more information, call (312) 995-8854.