Springfield, IL – State Senator Darby Hills (R-Barrington Hills) issued the following statement after the Senate passed the FY2026-2027 state budget.
“Every family knows what it means to make a budget work. When costs go up, they do not get to spend more. They sit down, decide what matters most, make tough choices, and live within their means. That is what responsible budgeting looks like, and it is what taxpayers should expect from the government they fund.
“Unfortunately, Springfield just did the opposite.
“This budget is the largest in Illinois history and comes after state spending has grown by roughly 40 percent over the last several years. While families are being asked to do more with less, state government continues to spend more than ever.
“Meanwhile, families and seniors are being squeezed from every direction. Illinoisans face some of the highest property taxes in the nation, rising energy bills, and higher costs for nearly everything they buy. Every extra dollar spent on utilities, groceries, or taxes is a dollar that cannot be spent on a family’s priorities.
“A responsible budget would have started by addressing these challenges. This one did not.
“I voted no because the families I represent deserve better. They deserve a government that lives within its means, respects taxpayers, and makes affordability the priority it should be.”