Kane County Reporter

State Representative Dan Ugaste of Geneva responded to Governor Pritzker's FY 2026 Budget Address, expressing concerns about the budget's size and approach. Rep. Ugaste noted that this year's budget is the largest in Illinois' history and criticized it for depending on "tricks and gimmicks" to address a previously projected $3.2 billion deficit.

Rep. Ugaste remarked, "Even the cuts the Governor has proposed are not truly cuts, and those programs are not going to be allowed to go away or be stripped down." He warned that tax increases would be necessary to balance the budget and advocated for a long-term economic strategy instead of a short-term outlook.

He emphasized declining economic indicators such as corporate tax and sales tax receipts, pointing out that even the Civic Federation has called for new approaches. "We need to stop increasing our revenue demand at a time when our business base is shrinking," he said.

Ugaste urged Democrats to consider Republican priorities, stating, "Republicans have been talking about these priorities for years, and it’s time for the Democrats to listen to what we are bringing to the table. We need to create an economy focused on growth."