The relative financial calm that has marked Illinois Gov. JB Pritzker’s six years in office may soon be coming to an end as his administration Friday forecast a budget deficit of more than $3 billion for the next fiscal year.

It marks a major shift from the years the state ran budget surpluses under his leadership and presents the governor with a painful set of potential solutions even as he considers running for a third term in 2026.

Without further revenue or spending cuts, Pritzker’s budget office estimates a budget deficit of $3.17 billion at the end of fiscal 2026, or mid-2026 as the gubernatorial election swings. full.

To deal with the problem, it’s unclear whether the governor and large Democratic majorities in the House and Senate would support raising taxes or fees; spending reductions; delays in paying government bills; use of the state’s $2.2 billion emergency fund; or a combination of these choices.

“While balancing spending pressures against a stable revenue outlook is a significant challenge, the Governor remains committed to taking steps to further improve Illinois’ fiscal situation and address any potential budget shortfalls that may arise – as he has done every year since he was elected. assumed office in 2019,” the governor’s budget office said in a statement attached to the forecast. “The ability to fund new programs will be severely limited. »

The Republicans pounced on the new set of budget figures.

“This guy spent like a drunken sailor for the first six years of his governorship. We’re there,” said Sen. Chapin Rose, R-Mahomet, ranking Republican on the Senate Appropriations Committee.

Rose said the appetite of Illinois taxpayers to take on tax or fee increases is “about zero.”

“But that doesn’t mean that left-leaning, progressive, mainstream Democrats won’t do it anyway,” Rose said. “I mean, have you talked to anyone going to the grocery store recently?”

The Governor’s Office of Management and Budget estimates that year-over-year sales tax revenue – one of the main revenue drivers of the state budget – will decline slightly over the course of the year. fiscal year 2026.

And on the spending side, Pritzker’s budget forecasters predict sizable increases for education, social services and health insurance for public officials, lawmakers, judges and their dependents.

When asked whether the governor would seek to raise taxes to close the projected deficit, Pritzker’s office said Friday evening that it was only a forecast and that he intended to present a balanced budget.