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SPRINGFIELD – Following the Senate’s advancement of the Fiscal Year 2024 budget, State Senator Cristina Castro (D-Elgin) released the following statement:

“This balanced budget makes historic investments in education, business assistance and help for communities in need, all while improving our state’s financial standing. Record funding for financial aid will give thousands of students the chance to seek higher education, no matter their background. The highest funding increases for higher education institutions in more than 20 years will support the economic hubs that our colleges and universities fuel in their communities.

“Illinois’ fiscal outlook has boomed thanks to the calculated spending decisions of recent years. We continue to move beyond the financial distress of the past by forging a new path forward: one marked by balanced budgets, extra pension contributions, credit rating upgrades, paying off our debt in advance and more – all steps that reduce liability for current and future taxpayers.

ELGIN – To further expand services, programs and library materials, State Senator Cristina Castro announced that three local libraries will receive $420,445 in grants from the Illinois Secretary of State.

“Libraries bring a wealth of knowledge and resources to kids and families in every corner of our state, and these investments will help them serve even more residents,” said Castro (D-Elgin). “I look forward to seeing the continuing impact our local libraries have on our community. From supporting early literacy to bridging the digital divide, libraries are vital to the fabric of our neighborhoods.”

The Public Library Per Capita Grants are authorized under Illinois library law for public libraries. Each year the program allocates money for books and learning materials, staff, equipment, digital access and new technology. The following local libraries received funding:

State Senator Cristina Castro advanced a legislative package from the Senate to help improve the procurement process in state contracts and provide pivotal economic opportunities and flexibilities to minority-owned businesses, universities, subcontractors, local governments and more.

“While minority- and women-owned businesses continue to face barriers to conducting business with the state, the demand for infrastructure and energy projects continues to boom, creating many more opportunities. This measure will make sure these critical economic opportunities are extended to those who have historically been shut out of the commerce process,” said Castro (D-Elgin). “Through these changes, we continue our work to cut red tape and make Illinois’ business environment more equitable and efficient.”

The measure makes a number of changes to improve state contracts for veterans, women, people with disabilities and minorities, streamline the procurement process, and allow additional flexibility for universities, small businesses and contractors.

Following the reappointment of the Legislative Inspector General Thursday, State Senator Cristina Castro (D-Elgin) issued the following statement:

“Today, I stood with my Democratic and Republican colleagues to pass House Joint Resolution 35 reappointing the Hon. Michael P. McCuskey as Legislative Inspector General. The bipartisan show of support for Judge McCuskey and his distinguished career reaffirms our commitment to ensuring ethics are upheld to the highest extent under the dome.

“The people of Illinois need to know we take the responsibility to hold ourselves accountable seriously. I’m glad that Judge McCuskey has upheld his duties over the last year, and am confident that he will continue exercising strong oversight over the General Assembly.

“I’m grateful for my colleagues’ support of this reappointment. I look forward to the continuing diligence and impartial oversight that make him the right person to continue serving as LIG.”