SPRINGFIELD – State Sen. Dave Syverson (R-Cherry Valley) says Gov. JB Pritzker is asking Illinoisans for an extra $1.1 billion in taxes in the coming year to help pay for a fiscal crisis of his own making – supporting thousands of noncitizens the Governor invited to Illinois.

Pritzker delivered his annual State of the State/Budget Address to a joint session of legislators Feb. 21 in the House of Representatives.

“The Governor has proposed a record-breaking $53 billion budget that requires another $1.1 billion in new taxes, which is not so coincidentally the amount of costs associated with the huge influx of noncitizens to Illinois,” Syverson said. “The Governor continues to focus on free healthcare, housing, and social services for noncitizens. That is wrong. Our priority should be Illinois families.”

Sen. Syverson says programs for noncitizens are growing at unsustainable levels.

“We warned that the open-door sanctuary state policy of the Governor would lead to unchecked spending that would result in tax increases. And here it is! The Governor is asking for more than $1 billion in tax increases, which is the approximate cost for just the healthcare programs for noncitizens,” Syverson said. “In addition to providing healthcare to the undocumented migrant population, Illinois is also covering the cost of children’s healthcare, housing, cash assistance, daycare, education, and other social service programs for noncitizens, estimated at more than $1 billion in additional costs.”

As the legislative budget process gets under way, Sen. Syverson says he stands ready to work with lawmakers on both sides of the aisle to make the tough decisions necessary to pass a balanced budget with structural reforms that will boost the economy and jobs.

Fiscal Year 2025 runs from July 1, 2024, through June 30, 2025.