For fiscal year 2025, Gov. JB Pritzker has pledged $182 in direct support from state taxpayers. Cook County has pledged $70 million in direct support. If the Chicago City Council votes "yes" Wednesday to appropriate $70 million in direct support to the migrants, then the total taxpayer cost of direct support will be $322 million for fiscal year 2025.
A largely unasked question is becoming glaring: Is Illinois doing all it should to use artificial intelligence to make government cost less and work better? So far, the evidence says no.