Kane County Reporter

Devin Corbett, Chairman of the Aurora Township Republicans, has voiced concerns over Illinois Democrats' spending priorities. He said that they must be held accountable for allocating billions towards migrant spending at the expense of essential services for residents. Corbett made these remarks to the Kane County Reporter.

"Billions in taxpayer funds are being funneled into migrant care under the leadership of Illinois Democrats, while many longtime residents struggle with basic needs," said Corbett. "These spending decisions highlight a growing disconnect between lawmakers and the people they represent. The $55.2 billion budget only reinforces the trend of prioritizing ideology over practical governance. Meaningful change won't happen until officials commit to long-term fiscal responsibility."

According to the Illinois Policy Institute, by the end of 2025, Illinois is projected to have spent over $2.5 billion on migrant care, significantly surpassing initial projections and placing a burden on taxpayers. Healthcare costs alone accounted for $1.6 billion through July 2024. The adult migrant program, initially expected to cost $126.4 million from 2021 to 2023, ultimately totaled $485.3 million. Similarly, the senior program's expenses reached $412.3 million, nearly double what was estimated. Since 2023, an additional $478 million has been allocated to migrant services. These budget pressures have led to the termination of the adult program in 2025 as critics question Governor J.B. Pritzker's spending decisions.

The Illinois Policy Institute further reported that Illinois' budget for 2026 stands at $55.2 billion—$2 billion more than the previous year—and includes over $800 million in additional taxpayer costs. Approved with limited review, this plan relies on tax increases, fund sweeps, and delayed payments for balance but underfunds pensions by $5 billion and eliminates the Property Tax Relief Grant, resulting in a $43 million property tax increase. Lawmakers also included pay raises exceeding $6,000 each. Since taking office in 2019, Governor Pritzker has increased the state budget by $16 billion and approved more than 50 tax hikes.

As of February 2024, NBC News reported that over 13,200 migrants were residing in 28 shelters run by Illinois according to a city census of new arrivals. Most migrants arrived since June 2023 as part of a busing campaign from southern border cities. Over 100,000 migrants have been transported to so-called sanctuary cities since April 2022; approximately 35,000 have settled in Chicago alone. Cities like Chicago, New York City, and Denver are struggling to meet housing and social service demands due to this influx.

Corbett was first elected as Chairman of the Aurora Township Republican Party in 2024 and is a resident of Aurora himself. According to the organization’s website, he is "focused on boosting Republican voter turnout, growing the Party’s membership," and effectively communicating "the Party’s positions on issues that matter to Aurora Township voters."