Kane County Reporter

Gov. J.B. Pritzker announced that he is proposing $75 million to be used toward the addition of 5,000 slots to existing pre-school programs that are funded by the state as part of his “Smart Start Illinois” plan.

According to a report by the Chicago Tribune on Feb 15, the governor said the funding is to “go all in for our children and making preschool available to every family throughout the state.” 

The House Republicans held a news conference of their own to announce that they will be creating groups focused on child welfare, education, supporting women and families and also helping the state’s economy.

“We can apply our strengths ... geography, workforce, our resources, to bring creators and opportunities home here to Illinois,” State Rep. Dan Ugaste (R-Geneva) said, according to the Chicago Tribune. “But we can only do so if we address the glaring issues that are facing families and job creators in this state. Sky-high property taxes, endless regulation and other costs that are just far too high in our state.”

“Smart Start Illinois” is part of Pritzker’s $49.6 billion spending proposal for the next budget year, according to the Chicago Tribune. The plan was delivered as part of his combined budget and State of the State speech given last week in the Illinois House chamber. This is the first address Pritzker has given before a full joint session since the the COVID-19 pandemic started in 2020.

The plan is part of a $250 million proposal that is intended to help young children and their families statewide. This is expected to take up the remainder of Pritzker’s new term in an effort to increase the total number of seats by 20,000. 

According to Pritzker’s website, Smart Smart Illinois’ $250 million includes the $75 million toward the Early Childhood Block grant annually for three years. It also includes $130 million for the Childcare Workforce Compensation Contracts, an additional $40 million for Early Intervention programs to help with services for families and providers, and $5 million toward expanding the Illinois Department of Human Services’ Home Visiting Program. He and fellow Democratic lawmakers lauded the program, and Pritzker visited schools and early childhood centers in Springfield, East St. Louis and Mount Vernon to highlight the plan.

Ugaste said on Feb. 15 that he is pushing a plan to make Illinois a “more pro-growth state” while also protecting the rights of workers and citizens at large. 

Ugaste has been critical of Democratic lawmakers for their work on addressing long-term structural problems, according to his website.

On his website Ugaste said Pritzker’s budget proposal will “do nothing but hinder our terrible climate for job creators.”