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Ag provisions included in proposed Illinois FY2021 budget

The Illinois General Assembly has approved a fiscal year 2021 budget that does include some agriculture related provisions.

Kevin Semlow, Director of State Legislation for Illinois Farm Bureau, tells Brownfield with economic uncertainties related to COVID-19 in mind, legislators kept the proposal very similar to the 2020 budget but it does include $5 million from the CARES Act for livestock producers.

“We are working with our department of commerce and economic opportunity and the department of agriculture to see about what we can use those for; depopulation, market losses, those types of things.”

Semlow says the budget also includes another $150,000 for mental health assistance and addresses money for vocational agriculture fairs.  

He says another policy issue IFB is focused on is a question on the upcoming election ballot that will ask if voters want to change the Illinois Constitution to replace the current flat tax with a progressive income tax system.

S“We are working to educate our members and voters that this is not really a good move especially with the COVID-19 economic downturn.”

The tax decision will be voted on in November and the FY2021 budget now moves to Governor Pritzker for approval.