SPRINGFIELD — State Senator Ann Gillespie (D-Arlington Heights) released the following statement after voting to pass the state’s Fiscal Year 2024 budget:

“I am proud to support a budget that invests in our future and positions Illinois for long-term prosperity. This budget is fiscally responsible, prioritizes investments in education and economic development, and contains measures that support working families.

“Historic investments in early childhood education and programming paired with strategic funding for workforce development programs will ensure that every parent has the child care and job training they need to make a living.

“Continuing to improve the state’s fiscal health, we have paid down debt, eliminated the bill backlog and will make an additional $200 million pension payment beyond what’s required. Overall, this year’s budget builds on past fiscal progress while making transformative investments in the services working people depend on.”