There’s an awful lot going on in Illinois these days. The General Assembly convenes today about 200 miles southwest of the news epicenter, and while that might mean escaping the nonstop attention focused on Chicago, lawmakers won’t be able to sidestep the harsh reality of a quickly darkening fiscal forecast.

The Governor’s Office of Management and Budget.released its annual report Thursday (tinyurl.com/GOMB26) showing a projected $267 million deficit for fiscal 2026 and a possible $2.2 billion shortfall when fiscal 2027 begins July 1.

“This year’s report shows lower-than-expected corporate tax revenue, federal tax law changes and economic volatility are driving” the current deficit, according to Ben Szalinski of Capitol News Illinois . “Overall revenue is projected to decrease $449 mil

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