Comptroller Leslie Munger says Illinois' unpaid bills backlog could potentially jump past $8 billion by next year without a state budget.
Munger reiterated the consequences of having no spending plan to legislators and Gov. Bruce Rauner. Both sides remain at impasse for the July 1 fiscal year.
Most of the state's money is being spent through court orders, which Munger says continues at unsustainable rates. There's also less revenue with a rolled back temporary income tax increase.
Munger says the backlog is $5.5 billion and could outpace $8.5 billion by December's end. In December 2014, it was roughly $6.6 billion.
While the number fluctuates monthly depending on revenues, Munger's office says it could worsen as the state figures out all the money that needs to be allocated through a budget.
