Two years with no budget have left the state of Illinois billions of dollars deeper in debt than when the budget impasse started. The state comptroller’s office says that when the fiscal year ends, the state’s stack of unpaid bills will be $11.6 billion higher.
In addition, the state pays interest on its overdue bills-- and Illinois has lost ground on its massive pension obligations.
All told, a public finance expert from the University of Colorado estimates the tab as at least a thousand dollar per Illinois resident, children included.