Governor-elect Bruce Rauner says Illinois’ financial condition is “stunningly bad” and it will require “strong action” to fix it. But he’s not saying what that action will be.
Rauner spoke with reporters Thursday at the Capitol.
He says Auditor General Bill Holland is conducting a “turnover audit” of the state’s financials. Rauner says that’s critical to understanding the depths of Illinois’ fiscal problems. He says he’ll be prepared to present a budget address in February.
But Rauner didn’t discuss how he’ll make up for billions of dollars less in revenue when Illinois’ income tax rate rolls back Jan. 1. He says he wants to overhaul the tax code and he’ll discuss it “at the right time.”
Meanwhile, Rauner says he wants the administration of outgoing Gov. Pat Quinn to hold off on hiring, appointing, and re-classifying employees for the remainder of its time in office.
“We have no reason to believe today that the governor or his staff are doing anything inappropriate,” however, some transitions in the past have included actions which “probably were inappropriate or didn’t make sense,” Rauner said.
“The Governor has already directed all cabinet members to manage their agencies in a responsible manner to ensure that the basic operations of the state continue,” the governor’s office said in a statement.
In addition to meeting with legislative leaders and other officials, Rauner plans to start drawing up a plan to fix up the Governor’s Mansion. He says his thinking now is that the repairs would be all privately funded.