Rep. C.D. Davidsmeyer wants more transparency in relation to the next fiscal budget. | Courtesy Photo
Rep. C.D. Davidsmeyer wants more transparency in relation to the next fiscal budget. | Courtesy Photo
Rep. C.D. Davidsmeyer (R-Jacksonville) called for transparency and accountability regarding the state budget in March saying that "difficult" decisions would need to be made to balance the spending plan.
Davidsmeyer's transparency request came roughly one month after Gov. J.B. Pritzker proposed a $42 billion spending plan in February for the next fiscal year, including $700 million in spending cuts for state agencies while also eliminating $932 million in corporate loopholes.
"What I really want to focus on is transparency and opportunity for us all to work together," Davidsmeyer said in a video posted to YouTube.
According to Davidsmeyer, the governor has still not met with House Republicans in the state to discuss this proposal since its introduction in February.
"I think that my Democrat colleagues have even said we need to come together to discuss how the federal dollars are going to be spent," Davidsmeyer said. "He gave his proposal almost a month ago and still has yet to have a sit-down meeting with any House Republicans."
Additionally, Davidsmeyers said his concerns regarding the use of federal funds in the budget.
"I think we need to get together and get back to reality, sit down, be transparent in this process and work together to pass a truly balanced budget that doesn't use the federal dollars to fill holes but to get us out of the holes," Davidsmeyers said.
Along with the $700 million in spending cuts, the Department of Children and Family Services will see an 8% increase in funding; funding for K-12 and higher education will also be protected at current levels.
The budget would also cap deductions for corporate operation losses, eliminate the franchise tax's repeal, and put a cap on the discount for retailers collecting sales tax; credit for donations to private school scholarship funds would also be lowered.
In total, the governor proposed spending $27.748 billion on public services for the new fiscal year; however, the total amount spending on public service is $434 less than the last fiscal year due to inflation, according to a report by The Commission on Government Forecasting and Accountability (COGFA).
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