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The "Crisis of Confidence" series is a multi-year effort by the Tri States Public Radio to document the impact the two-year state budget impasse had on Western Illinois University and the ongoing recovery efforts at WIU. State support for public higher education institutions has been steadily declining in Illinois for more than a decade. But the issue was compounded, during the state's historic two-year budget impasse during Fiscal Years '16 and '17 which left public colleges and universities with little state financial support. At Western Illinois University, that drastic cut in state appropriations resulted in significant budget cuts, employee furloughs, and layoffs.

Rauner Signs Budget, Keeps Criticizing Taxes

Gov. Bruce Rauner signs the FY2019 budget, surrounded by the Democratic and Republican legislators who negotiated it, at the James R. Thompson Center in Chicago.
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Illinois Information Service
Gov. Bruce Rauner signs the FY2019 budget, surrounded by the Democratic and Republican legislators who negotiated it, at the James R. Thompson Center in Chicago.

Gov. Bruce Rauner has signed Illinois’ budget into law.

Brian Mackey reports.

This is the first full-year budget Rauner has signed since taking office more than three years ago.

He did so at a news conference in Chicago, flanked by the Democratic and Republican legislators who negotiated the compromise.

“Today we are having a small celebration,” Rauner said. “Today is a good day for the people of Illinois.”

Illinois’ finances spun out of control during the first two years of Rauner’s administration, when no full budgets were enacted. The chaos only ended last year, when 16 Republicans broke with Rauner and helped Democrats pass a tax hike over his veto.

Rauner says he’ll continue to campaign against the tax increase, even though he signed a budget that spends every dollar it generates.

The new spending plan takes effect July 1.

Copyright 2018 NPR Illinois | 91.9 UIS

Brian Mackey covers Illinois state government and politics from the WUIS Statehouse bureau. He was previously A&E editor at The State Journal-Register and Statehouse bureau chief for the Chicago Daily Law Bulletin. He can be reached at (217) 206-6020.
Brian Mackey
Brian Mackey formerly reported on state government and politics for NPR Illinois and a dozen other public radio stations across the state. Before that, he was A&E editor at The State Journal-Register and Statehouse bureau chief for the Chicago Daily Law Bulletin.