Illinois General Assembly

Generous Pay Raises Continue as Services Diminish

For Immediate Release
May 17, 2010
Contact Rep. Jil Tracy
(217) 223-0833

Springfield, IL...As we continue to hear about the huge budget deficit and are repeatedly told state services are going to be decimated, hefty pay raises are being granted for a number of employees on the taxpayer's dime.  "Governor Quinn continues to threaten human service agencies and the state police force with deep cuts, but what has been overlooked is the fact that he supported a new contract granting 8% pay hikes for some employees in those same fields," said State Representative Jil Tracy (R-Mt. Sterling).
 
In a move which Rep. Tracy calls "misguided," Governor Pat Quinn has repeatedly maintained support for contract raises which will cost Illinois over $330 million in annualized pay increases for FY10 and FY11.  A document outlining the pay hikes lists over $230 million in increases for the current fiscal year, with an additional $105 million for next year.
 
"This is the type of action that erodes public trust in state government to manage tax dollars responsibly," said Rep. Tracy.  "You have a governor who has repeatedly asked the residents of this state to pay more in taxes, while at the same time using what little money is available to provide generous pay increases to high level government workers.  Private sector employees are not likely to receive raises this year, I think the state of Illinois needs to follow that same business model."
 
 "We are in a full blown fiscal crisis, yet the Governor is handing out pay raises without question," said Tracy.  "How in the world will we bring spending under control when the chief executive of this state can't question pay hikes during the biggest revenue shortfall in state history?"