(SPRINGFIELD) The University of Illinois Flash Index for December improved to 102.4 from its reading the previous month of 102 even, with any number over 100 indicating economic growth. Both sales and individual income tax receipts were up from the same month last year while corporate receipts were slightly down. Nominal sales tax receipts recorded the highest monthly total in history, narrowly missing the $1 billion level.
(SPRINGFIELD) Many downstate lawmakers are relieved a recent federal spending bill included taxpayer funds for St. Clair and Washington Counties, with a total of $89.5 million for federal disaster aid to support recovery efforts following a string of severe storms and tornadoes last summer. The funding, which was included in December’s end-of-the-year government spending bill, will be critical in rebuilding existing infrastructure in several communities and the bolstering of various defenses against future storms and flooding.
(SPRINGFIELD) The former Pritzker administration official who spearheaded the state’s response to the COVID-19 pandemic has agreed to pay $150,000 to the state after an ethics complaint investigation. Dr. Ngozi Ezike, the former Director of the Illinois Department of Public Health, agreed to the violation of the Ethics Act & the facts comprising the violation, in that she accepted employment and compensation from an entity which had contracts involving IDPH with a value of at least $4.2 million and over which she had exercised regulatory and licensing authority in the year before her departure from state employment.
(SPRINGFIELD) The public voting period for the Illinois State Flag redesign contest is now underway and will continue for the next month, through February 14th. Statewide residents can go online and vote for one of the Illinois Flag Commission’s Top 10 new designs, or one of three former flag designs, including the state’s current flag. The public can vote once every 24-hour period. The designs can be viewed & voted on at the ilsos.gov website.