No clear path on Illinois budget saga - Assoicated Press

Illinois faces a roughly $5 billion budget deficit this fiscal year, which ends June 30, and its unpaid bill backlog could reach almost $26 billion by 2020 if current revenue and spending policies continue. Legislative economists will brief lawmakers March 1 on the state’s latest revenue projections, which will influence budget negotiations. For some, the lack of progress has already been disastrous and others are on the verge of disaster. Many social service programs have shut down and Chicago State University has said it will be unable to pay its employees next month because it hasn’t received state support since July 1 when the current year’s budget should have taken effect. http://chicago.suntimes.com/politics/7/71/1342399/illinois-budget-impasse-outlook