The latest Illinois budget will go into effect July 1 and a local lawmaker isn't impressed by the Governor's claims of a balanced budget.

The first issue Sen. Chapin Rose has with the budget is a billion dollars in tax increases on Illinois residents to pay for a billion dollars in benefits for illegal aliens in Illinois.

On top of the increase in spending during the Governor's tenure, Sen. Rose indicates COVID money from the federal government is set to run out after this year which will create a huge hole in revenue next year.

One of the selling points of the budget has been the elimination of the grocery tax but the Mahomet Republican says that isn't really a revenue stream controlled by the State of Illinois. It is imposed by local governments.

Sen. Rose feels Illinois' most vulnerable citizens were left behind in this budget to prioritize illegal aliens who are able-bodied and can get to Illinois on their own.

Since its passage in 2020, the Government has committed to using revenue from the legalization of marijuana to fund mental health services but that hasn't happened. Sen. Rose says it is the lottery tax promise all over again.

Sen. Rose hopes the people of Illinois are beginning to see through the "all is well" messaging as grocery prices and all prices continue to soar.