CHICAGO — Calling the state's fiscal condition "stunningly bad," Illinois Gov.-elect Bruce Rauner called on Gov. Pat Quinn to freeze hiring and not move political appointees into union-protected jobs.
Rauner made the comments during a trip to the state capital in Springfield Thursday where he met with legislative leaders, other constitutional officers, and state auditor William Holland.
Rauner offered a bleak assessment of the state's finances as he's now gotten a closer look at the state's books provided by the Quinn administration since his election. Rauner said he intends to release a fiscal 2016 budget by the scheduled deadline in late February.
"The financial condition of the state of Illinois is stunningly bad," he said. "Our financial condition is dire. We need to take strong action to fix it." Rauner did not offer any solutions, saying only that he would work with lawmakers on a fix.
The state's fiscal 2015 budget that runs through June 30 does not fully cover the year's expenses and a $4 billion deficit looms next year if the 2011 income tax hike is allowed to partially expire as scheduled Jan. 1. The state is rated at the low single-A level, the lowest among states, and carries negative outlooks.
Rauner did not offer any further hints about whether he will push to extend the higher tax rates.
During the campaign, he said the rates should be allowed to rollback as scheduled but more recently left the door open to delaying the action. The Republican governor will need the support of a Democratic-controlled General Assembly where that party enjoys a veto proof majority.
Quinn's office said the governor had no plans to halt hiring and has directed his administration to manage operations efficiently "to ensure that the basic operations of the state continue."
Rauner will be inaugurated Jan. 12.
