SPRINGFIELD – Senator Cristina Castro (D-Elgin) released the following statement on the passage of a balanced, bipartisan budget tonight:
“This budget represents hope for our state. Members from all four caucuses came together to make difficult choices and find a compromise that would bring certainty and stability back to Illinois.
“My measure, Senate Bill 2577, or the Marketplace Fairness Act, is also included in the budget. This will bring revenue to our state because it ensures out-of-state online companies pay their fair share of taxes, just like local brick-and-mortar business owners do.
“I voted for this budget, not only because it was truly balanced, but because it funds the services many people in my district rely on. Under this budget, services such as domestic violence shelters, mental health programs and childcare and immigration services are able to get the funding they need to keep their doors opened.
“Our budget restores certainty for pre-kindergarten through 12th grade with the new evidence-based school funding model which guarantees no school district will get less funding than the year before. We can let out a sigh of relief knowing that our schools will open on time.
“After holding higher education hostage for over two years, this budget provides our colleges and universities with a 2 percent increase while also funding MAP Grants and a new Military Veteran Scholarship that will be distributed to public institutions based on their level of veteran enrollment. That will give Elgin Community College over $50,000.
“The budget also gives middle class students a chance to pursue a higher education in our state through the new pilot grant program, AIM HIGH. Illinois will match the funding to public universities that award scholarships to students based off of not only their financial need, but their merit. This will help keep students in our state.
“We began to rebuild our state when we passed a budget last year for the first time in two years. Now, it is time to continue working to ensure that Illinois is a place for people to live, work and prosper.”
The budget package will move to the House for consideration before heading to the governor’s desk.
