Like many legislative processes, the state budget is complicated, but it’s important to know what’s happening and weigh in because it impacts everyone in Illinois. The governor’s proposal serves as a blueprint to help the House and Senate get started, but the budget truly takes shape over the next few months as government agencies and community advocates weigh in.
Government spending puts your tax dollars to work, funding programs and public services that, for example, address the housing crisis for asylum seekers or support early childhood education through the creation of the Department of Early Childhood—an initiative from last year’s budget. Each year, our elected officials come together to decide which programs stay, what new ones might be implemented, and whether you’ll have to pay more to finance them.
This is where organizations like the Latino Policy Forum come into play. As part of their advocacy for the Latino community, the Forum releases an annual Springfield Agenda outlining the policy, administrative, and budgetary priorities they will support during the upcoming budget season. The agenda is divided into three core pillars: Education, Immigration, and Housing. While you can view the entire agenda here, a few key highlights this year include:
-Increased funding for the Illinois Department of Early Childhood
-$25 million for Illinois Access to Justice, which provides legal support for marginalized communities impacted by mass deportations and incarcerations.
-$40 million for the Emergency and Transitional Housing Program, which provides services for individuals and families facing homelessness.
The Forum believes these investments extend beyond the Latino community and would benefit citizens across the state. The Department of Early Childhood, for example, was created last year with strong support from the Forum.
The new agency presents an opportunity for young children and families to access a seamless, equitable, and affordable system of care and support,” said Dr. Rebecca Vonderlack-Navarro, Vice President of Education Policy and Research at the Forum. “Currently, families have to navigate services and programs from three different state agencies. A unified agency aligns with the Governor’s commendable goal to make Illinois the best state in the nation to raise children.”
Forum staff are also working with the department to ensure multilingual learners have access to bilingual/ESL programming, said Dr. Vonderlack-Navarro, who also serves on the department’s transition advisory committee.
Looking at this year’s budget proposal, Governor Pritzker continues to prioritize education, seeking to invest $85 million in early childhood education programs for low-income families and increase K-12 funding by $350 million. However, his proposed budget calls for some painful cuts. For example, the governor’s proposal would eliminate the Health Benefits for Immigrant Adults program, which provides healthcare coverage to undocumented adults ages 42-64.
“This will have a devastating impact on the estimated 34,000 people who rely on the program and are some of our most vulnerable community members,” said José Marco-Paredes, Vice President for Civic Engagement at the Latino Policy Forum. “Investing in the programs and initiatives that help Latinos thrive is an investment in our state. When faced with challenges like funding shortfalls and a hostile federal government that has threatened to cut critical funds, our community is a part of the solution.”
With COVID relief funds running dry and threats from the Trump administration to cut federal funding, this will be a challenging budget season, with many programs at risk of being reduced or eliminated entirely.
We’ve covered how the budget process works, the timeline, what’s in it, and why you should care. That just leaves one final question: What can you do about it? While these processes can feel intimidating or outside of your control, remember—the people making these decisions work for you.
“There is power in numbers, and pressure from constituents makes a difference.”
One of the most effective ways to make your voice heard is by reaching out to your legislators. Call their offices, visit them in person, or participate in events like Latino Unity Day in May. There is power in numbers, and pressure from constituents makes a difference.
Keep in mind, the window for action is small, and you won’t always know everything included in a given year’s budget. Stay informed by subscribing to the Forum’s newsletter so you can be ready to advocate when it counts.
Gonzalo Guzman (he/him) is a queer Latinx photographer and writer based in Chicago. His work explores the experience of Latine communities and the impact they have in the shaping of the current American landscape. Gonzalo’s words and images have been published in The Chicago Reader, Eater, Block Club Chicago, Borderless Magazine and WTTW.