The Civic Federation is opposing Gov. Pat Quinn’s proposed budget because it would use revenue from an income tax hike to add new spending.
The $38.1 billion proposed budget makes permanent the temporary income tax increase lawmakers approved in 2011.
Quinn says extending the tax increase is necessary to avoid severe cuts to areas such as education. But the Civic Federation notes Quinn wants to use $1.3 billion on a new property tax refund for homeowners.
The organization says new revenue should be used to pay down Illinois’ multibillion-dollar backlog of unpaid bills.