SPRINGFIELD – Following the signing of the Illinois FY 2021 budget, State Senator Steve Stadelman (D-Rockford) applauded the preservation of education and local government funding and efforts to address the challenges presented by COVID-19.

“This budget was passed under unusual circumstances, and that cannot be overstated,” Stadelman said. “We had to not only pass a responsible budget, but also address the many challenges the state and its people have faced due to COVID-19.”

Stadelman highlighted that in this budget the state has committed to holding the line for P-12 and higher education funding.

“As a state, we must continue to maintain steady funding for our schools,” Stadelman said. “Districts have had to make significant adjustments due to COVID-19. It was important that we showed our students and educators that they are a priority.”

The budget fully funds the Local Government Distributive Fund. The fund provides local governments with a share of the state’s income tax revenue and will help them make up for budget shortfalls caused by the COVID-19 pandemic.

“Our cities and small towns depend on us to ensure that they have enough funds to serve their residents,” Stadelman said. “Making sure that cities like Rockford receive the funds they need was a top priority for me.”

Despite financial challenges, the budget maintains services for people in need and assists small businesses hit hard by COVID-19. It also includes federal relief dollars for health care and frontline workers.

“This is a budget to help us get through the pandemic,” Stadelman said. “It certainly isn't perfect, but it provides the state with stability until there are better days to come.”

The law is effective July 1, 2020.

SPRINGFIELD – With the state beginning its next stage of recovery from the COVID-19 pandemic, property owners will see financial relief under a measure supported by State Senator Steve Stadelman (D-Rockford) that was signed into law last Friday.

“Residents across Illinois have faced severe financial hardships over the past few months, and property taxes are often a burden for families living on fixed incomes,” Stadelman said. “Any form of relief during these times can help alleviate some of the pain people are experiencing.”

Under the legislation, local businesses and residents will see property tax relief in the form of:

• Empowering county governments to approve 2020 homestead exemptions for those with disabilities, veterans with disabilities and senior citizens, as long as the property had been granted this exemption for 2019.

• Allowing counties with less than 3 million residents to waive interest penalties and fees for late property tax payments due in 2020

• Deferred property tax sales.

“Giving homeowners some flexibility on property taxes is a necessity in our current economic situation,” Stadelman said. “Everyone has been effected by this pandemic.”

This legislation went into effect on June 5, 2020.

ROCKFORD — As small business owners across Illinois are concerned about their financial situations due to the COVID-19 Pandemic, State Senator Steve Stadelman highlighted new funding from the Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity for small business development centers to help them get through this difficult time.

“Small businesses play an important role in our state, and investing in them is key to making sure the Illinois economy can get back on its feet,” Stadelman said. “Downstate communities do well when small businesses do well.”

A $7.3 million investment announced by the Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity Wednesday will flow from the U.S. Small Business Administration to the Illinois Small Business Developmental Center program. The statewide program focuses on supporting Illinois businesses and entrepreneurs in starting, growing and maintaining their businesses.

The money will go toward additional resources for education, training and professional business advising to small businesses that have experienced supply chain disruptions, staffing challenges, a decrease in gross receipts or customers, or a closure as a result of COVID-19.

Since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic, the program has played an important role in connecting businesses with support resources and assistance programs designed to help keep them from shutting their doors permanently.

SPRINGFIELD – On Wednesday, State Senator Steve Stadelman (D-Rockford) returned to Springfield for the reconvening of the Illinois Senate after over two months of cancelation due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

“The unusual circumstances that we passed a budget under cannot be overstated, Stadelman said. “We had to not only pass a responsible budget, but to also address the vast challenges the state has now been place under due to COVID-19.”

Stadelman highlighted the additional funding the state received under the federal CARES act.

The additional federal funding will be distributed to local governments, Business Interruption Grant program, rent and mortgage assistance and more.

“This budget addresses some of the most important challenges facing downstate communities like mine.” Stadelman said. “Health care workers and essential employees are on the frontline every day to ensure our safety and livelihood. They need assistance and they need it now. That is reflected in this budget.”

Stadelman also emphasized that the state has committed to holding the line for K-12 and higher education funding.

“As a state we need to make sure that we continue to maintain steady funding for our schools,” Stadelman said. “Districts have had to significantly adjust due to COVID-19. It was important that we showed our students and educators that they are a priority.”

Senate Bill 262 passed the Senate with a vote of 37-19-0.

“With the circumstances we were placed under, this is a responsible and most importantly a fair budget.”