State budget would put off tough decisions until after election

8:37 p.m. CDT, May 27, 2014

Illinois Democrats on Tuesday rolled out a new state spending plan that puts off many tough decisions until after the November election by relying on a series of time-tested budget tricks.

To make ends meet, at least on paper, lawmakers would bump up how much money they think will come in, borrow from special funds, put off paying bills, lower estimated health care costs and skip putting in money to pay for raises for unionized workers.

The $35.7 billion spending plan — roughly $300 million more than this year’s budget — is a compromise that emerged after lawmakers declined to extend a temporary income tax increase that’s set to start expiring in January but also refused to make deep cuts.