State Representative Dan Swanson co-sponsored House Joint Resolution 124 to adopt a revenue estimate to begin the budgeting process for fiscal year 2019.
“All legislators pledge an oath to follow the US and State Constitution when sworn in to office. Our State Constitution mandates the Illinois General Assembly set a revenue estimate to ensure state government doesn’t spend more than we anticipate bringing in,” said Rep. Swanson on Friday. “It is no different then our own household budgets, where we look at our income and base a budget from there.”
House Joint Resolution 124 adopts a revenue estimate of $37.672 billion for fiscal year 2019, based on the estimate provided by the Commission on Government Forecasting and Accountability (COGFA).
A revenue estimate is required by state law:
The House and Senate by joint resolution shall adopt or modify such estimates as may be appropriate. The joint resolution shall constitute the General Assembly’s estimate, under paragraph B of Section 2 of Article VIII of the Constitution, of funds estimated to be available during the next fiscal year (25 ILCS 155/4(a))
It is also required by Subsection (b) of Section 2 of Article VIII of the Constitution of Illinois:
Appropriations for a fiscal year shall not exceed funds estimated by the General Assembly to be available during that year.
“I feel strongly that we need to take our Constitutional Mandate seriously. And adopt a revenue estimate as was done in 2011, the last time Speaker Madigan followed the Constitution on this issue,” Swanson continued.