A new poll says Illinois voters are divided on what to do about the state’s financial problems.
The poll puts Illinois' deficit at $10 billion, and gives voters three choices for how to fix it: raise taxes, cut "waste and inefficiency," or both.
Cuts were the most popular answer at 45 percent. Just 11 percent favored only raising taxes; about a third said do both.
Paradoxically, when you ask voters about specific areas to cut, most are rejected. Support was strongest for spending on education, poor people, and individuals with disabilities.
Unfortunately for the poll respondents, few in government actually think Illinois can cut its way out of its deficit.
Even Republican Gov. Bruce Rauner says he’s willing to raise taxes IF he gets some of his pro-business wish list.
The poll was conducted by the Paul Simon Public Policy Institute at Southern Illinois University.
Elsewhere on Friday, Comptroller Susana Mendoza’s office reported Illinois pile of unpaid bills hit $12.8 billion. That works out to about $1,000 for every person in the state.
I’m Brian Mackey.
