Over $300M Diverted From Road Fund as Illinois
Infrastructure Struggles
GraniteCityGossip.com, July 4, 2025
Illinois’ 2026 budget will shift $308 million from its dedicated Road Fund—a move that critics say puts the state’s already subpar infrastructure at further risk.
Despite ranking just 31st in road quality nationwide, the state plans to divert $171 million in motor fuel tax revenues, originally slated for roads, to help close budget gaps. These funds were supposed to help complete Gov. J.B. Pritzker’s $45 billion Rebuild Illinois plan, launched in 2019 to fix roads, bridges, railways, and airports.
Ironically, the same gas tax hikes used to fund that plan are now being redirected. The budget also includes $137 million from the Road Fund for state employee health costs—justified under provisions tied to workers’ compensation.
Meanwhile, lawmakers approved $237 million in new spending for politically directed projects, mostly benefiting Democrats. The state’s roads? Still lagging. Just 80.4% were in acceptable condition as of 2023, compared to 90%+ in Indiana, Iowa, and Minnesota.
Voters tried to put a stop to this with the 2016 “lockbox” amendment, intended to prevent transportation fund misuse. Yet state leaders continue to find work arounds, prompting watchdog groups to call for performance-based budgeting and long-term structural fixes.
Unless that happens, critics warn Illinois will keep trading economic growth and infrastructure stability for short-term budget tricks.