Illinois Falls Behind on its Bills SPRINGFIELD, IL (wqub) - Nearly halfway through the fiscal year... the State of Illinois is falling further behind in paying its bills. Amanda Vinicky reports:

Illinois' Comptroller sent all agencies and contracted vendors an alert that their payments from the state will be late. Spokeswoman Carol Knowles explains what's causing the holdup:

"Quite simply we have more bills than we have revenue in which to pay them."

Knowles says part of the problem is a downturn in the economy. The state's bringing in less than expected in sales and corporate income taxes.

Knowles says the comptroller's waiting to make payments to 80 thousand companies, individuals and other entities that are owed.

And ... she says ... it's expected to get worse. Hundreds of millions of dollars in Medicaid bills are expected to be submitted soon, adding to the backlog.

She says it's unfortunate ... as the state's basically balancing its checkbook on the backs of companies, day-care providers, hospitals and others who perform services for the state.
I'm Amanda Vinicky.

Knowles says state workers' paychecks won't be effected ... though employees may have to wait longer for reimbursements ... such as for travel.
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