Springfield, IL – With just days left in the legislative session, State Representative Dan Ugaste (R-Geneva) offered clear criteria for what he is looking for in the State Budget.
Democrats are preparing to once again introduce a multi-billion-dollar state budget at the last minute without transparency, accountability, or serious input from taxpayers.
“We are stuck in a terrible cycle,” said Rep. Ugaste. “Every year, the majority party funds new programs we can’t afford, with no plan to pay for them long-term. Then, when the economy turns, they raise taxes, making things even worse for working families. It’s reckless, unsustainable, and exactly why people are leaving this state.”
Ugaste said he cannot support any budget that fails to meet three common-sense standards:
- Real property tax relief: “Families are being crushed by property taxes. If we’re not giving them relief, then what are we doing?”
- A balanced budget that’s actually balanced: “No more smoke and mirrors. No more budgets held together by short-term fixes and imaginary revenue.”
- No new tax hikes: “Illinoisans already pay too much. Raising taxes to cover overspending is not leadership, it’s failure.”
Ugaste also criticized the closed-door process that has become a hallmark of budget season in Springfield. Rep. Ugaste concluded: “The people of Illinois deserve honesty, fiscal discipline, and relief from the constant pressure of tax-and-spend policies. I’ll keep fighting for that.”