Illinois in 'worst fiscal position in its history' Comments July 9, 2010
ASSOCIATED PRESS Illinois' finances broke a lot of records in the just-ended budget year. Unfortunately, all of the records were bad. Among them:
The backlog of unpaid bills as of June 30 -- the end of the budget year -- was a record $4.7 billion, according to state Comptroller Dan Hynes.
MAXED OUT A SUN-TIMES SERIES Facing up to our local and state budget crisis The state also set a record in the amount of time it takes the comptroller's office to pay bills -- 153 working days.
"Illinois ended the year in the worst fiscal position in its history," a report from Hynes' office concludes.
The state can't even replenish its "rainy-day" fund. The backlog of unpaid bills is "more than rainy," said Hynes spokeswoman Carol Knowles. "It's a monsoon."
