HR0554 LRB099 12648 GRL 36317 r
1		HOUSE RESOLUTION
2		WHEREAS, The State of Illinois has failed to consistently
3		budget in a way that provides fiscal stability and employs a
4		long-term approach to Illinois' financial health; and
5		WHEREAS, The State lacks the fiscal stability necessary to
6		adequately attract and retain new jobs at the levels necessary
7		to support robust economic growth; this lack of stability
8		drives up costs of providing critical services and programs for
9		Illinois residents; and
10		WHEREAS, The lack of consistent long-term budget
11		strategies, combined with the recent fiscal downturn, have led
12		to a perpetual cycle of crisis budgeting; and
13		WHEREAS, Crisis-driven budgeting has led to a focus on
14		short-term needs, rather than the long-term needs of the State;
15		and
16		WHEREAS, The instability of Illinois' fiscal situation
17		limits the ability of the State to adequately fund education,
18		provide for critical human services to those most in need, and
19		address unpaid bills; and
20		WHEREAS, Addressing the State's unpaid bills on a

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1		consistent basis allows other units of government that are
2		dependent on State funds to better plan and more efficiently
3		manage their finances, resulting in lower costs for local
4		taxpayers and more cost-effective management for other
5		providers, such as hospitals, nursing homes, non-profit
6		organizations, and others; and
7		WHEREAS, Fluctuations in the economy are inevitable; the
8		State must employ budgetary practices to avoid being forced
9		back to the drawing board every time there is a revenue
10		downturn or unexpected but necessary budgetary demand; and
11		WHEREAS, Consistently carrying billions of dollars of debt
12		has negative impacts on the State and is a drain on our State's
13		resources in numerous ways, including the application of scarce
14		resources to interest payments rather than vital programs and
15		services; a negative impact on Illinois' credit rating;
16		consistent challenges to institutions and service providers in
17		long-term planning; and a lack of confidence in government by
18		many citizens of this State; therefore, be it
19		RESOLVED, BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE
20		NINETY-NINTH GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that we
21		urge the General Assembly to implement the following budgeting
22		practices:
23		(1) the Illinois General Assembly should apply any

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1		revenues which exceed expenditures to the payment of any
2		old bills that are more than 45 days past the due date,
3		including General Revenue Fund and non-General Revenue
4		Fund expenditures, at the close of each fiscal year; and
5		(2) if there are no pending bills over 45 days past the
6		due date at such a time, such revenues should be directed
7		to the Budget Stabilization Fund (30 ILCS 122 et seq.),
8		also known as the "Rainy Day Fund"; and be it further
9		RESOLVED, That we urge the Illinois General Assembly to
10		provide for the use and maintenance of the Budget Stabilization
11		Fund, to be funded as follows:
12		(1) should the growth in the annual revenue estimate
13		exceed 3% from the previous year's estimated revenues, such
14		excess amount should be appropriated "off the top" of
15		estimated available revenues to the Budget Stabilization
16		Fund; and
17		(2) should no unpaid bills remain due over 45 days at
18		the close of each fiscal year, the Illinois General
19		Assembly should apply any revenues which exceed
20		expenditures to the Budget Stabilization Fund.