Gov. Pritzker Proposes Another Balanced Budget

Fiscally responsible plan focuses on affordability for working families while protecting long-term financial stability

Published on Feb. 22, 2026

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Governor JB Pritzker unveiled his eighth balanced budget proposal, a fiscally responsible plan centered on making Illinois more affordable for working families while protecting the state's long-term financial stability. The budget builds on seven years of restored fiscal stability, lowering the state's bill backlog, improving credit ratings, and rebuilding the Rainy Day Fund.

Why it matters

The governor's budget proposal comes at a time when families are facing higher costs driven by national economic uncertainty. By prioritizing affordability without raising taxes, the budget aims to ensure Illinois can continue delivering results while keeping costs down for residents.

The details

The FY27 budget proposal includes several initiatives to address the high cost of living in Illinois, such as the BUILD Plan to lower housing costs by removing unnecessary barriers and regulations for housing construction. It also proposes a two-year pause on new data center tax credits to prioritize energy affordability for households, and an executive order to speed up the development of new clean nuclear power to increase electricity supply and secure the state's energy future. Additionally, the budget continues the state's medical debt relief program and vocational training grant program.

  • Governor Pritzker unveiled the FY27 budget proposal on February 18, 2026.
  • The budget proposal comes after seven consecutive years of balanced budgets under Pritzker's administration.

The players

Governor JB Pritzker

The 43rd governor of Illinois, who has proposed and signed balanced budgets for the past seven years.

Attorney General Kwame Raoul

The Illinois Attorney General who has expertly fought to protect the state's resources from being illegally withheld by the federal government.

President Donald Trump

The former president whose administration has cost Illinois $8.4 billion in illegally withheld federal funds and resources.

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What they’re saying

“We must not let individuals continue to damage private property in San Francisco.”

— Robert Jenkins, San Francisco resident (San Francisco Chronicle)

What’s next

The Illinois General Assembly will review and debate the governor's budget proposal in the coming months before approving a final FY27 state budget.

The takeaway

Governor Pritzker's budget proposal focuses on making Illinois more affordable for working families by addressing the high costs of housing, energy, and healthcare, while also continuing the state's fiscal responsibility and investments in education and workforce development. The budget aims to protect Illinois residents from the negative impacts of federal policies and economic uncertainty.