Illinois Report Projects Budget Deficits and Lagging Revenues

SPRINGFIELD – A yearly report by the Governor’s Office of Management and Budget (GOMB) projects troubling news for Illinois’ economy – a $3.16 billion state budget deficit for the upcoming Fiscal Year leading some to question if another tax hike could be on the horizon.

State Sen. Jil Tracy (R-Quincy) says state government spending has increased by 32 percent since Governor JB Pritzker took office, which is why Democrat leaders earlier this year forced through a record-breaking $53 billion budget that includes nearly $1 billion in higher taxes. That record-breaking budget also provides more than $1 billion in benefits for noncitizens.

Sen. Tracy says years of such record spending pose a serious risk to Illinois’ fiscal stability and the financial security of its residents. Senate Republicans will continue to support the kind of business and government reforms needed to boost Illinois’ economy and jobs.

ISAC Offers Help With College and Financial Aid Applications

The Illinois Student Assistance Commission (ISAC) is offering free college application and financial aid application completion workshops statewide.

According to the U.S. Department of Education, the 2025-2026 Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) will launch in December.

The FAFSA is the key to unlocking federal, state, and some institutional student financial aid to help pay for college, vocational school, or graduate school. The FAFSA is not just an application for student loans, but also for aid that students don’t have to pay back. That includes scholarships as well as federal grants such as the Pell Grant, and state grants like the Illinois Monetary Award Program (MAP) Grant, which is the state’s largest need-based grant program for low-income college students.

Students should complete the 2025-26 FAFSA as soon as possible when it becomes available in December 2024. For information, click https://studentaid.gov/h/apply-for-aid/fafsa.

Illinois DCFS Celebrates Adoption Awareness Month

November is Adoption Awareness Month, and the Illinois Department of Children and Family Services is celebrating thousands of families across the state who have opened their homes to 19,347 children in the past 10 years.

Courtrooms across the state are also opening their doors to finalize adoptions during special Adoption Day celebrations on November 22 in Chicago and Marion, November 23 in Rockford, and December 27 in Edwardsville.

Last fiscal year, 2,184 Illinois children were adopted into permanent, loving families. Currently, there are 18,850 youth in care waiting for a family and place to call home.

For more information about becoming an adoptive parent, visit dcfs.illinois.gov and click on “Loving Homes,” then click on “Become a Foster or Adoptive Parent.”

Illinois State Fair Announces Holiday Sale

Unique holiday gifts are now available from the Illinois State Fair.

Mega and Jumbo passes are on sale for just $70 for the Mega Pass, which offers unlimited carnival rides, and $80 for the Jumbo Pass, which offers unlimited carnival rides plus the Giant Slide. Prices for both will increase by $10 as of Jan. 1, 2025.

Admission Bargain Books and Seasonal Infield Parking Passes are also available and make great stocking stuffers. For just $45, the Admission Bargain Book provides 11 any-day admissions to the 2025 Illinois State Fair. The Seasonal Infield Parking Pass is only $40 and allows you to park on the infield (Gate 6) all 11 days of the fair.

To take advantage of these limited-time deals:

• Order Online: statefair.illinois.gov
• Order by Mail: Download the application at statefair.illinois.gov and mail to the address on the order form.
• Order by Phone: Call (217) 782-0775 and place your order or leave a message for a return call.

The Illinois’ Best Blue Ribbon Recipes cookbook is another great gift idea filled with award-winning recipes from the 2024 Illinois State Fair. Cookbooks are $15 when picked up onsite and $20 when shipped. Learn more at statefair.illinois.gov/cookbook.html.

The 2025 Illinois State Fair will take place August 7-17. Sign up for Main Gate Insider alerts at statefair.illinois.gov.