Question &\; Answer session with Andy Manar\, Illinois Deputy Governor for Budget and Economy
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\n - Main priorities year to year
\n - Potential tax changes
\n - Federal funding
\n - Navigating future trends \;
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\nAndy Manar bio:
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\nAndy Manar joined the administration of Governor JB Pritzker in January 2021 and serves as Deputy Governor for Budget and Economy\, bringing with him over twenty years of experience in municipal\, county and state government in Illinois.
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\nPrior to joining the Pritzker Administration\, Manar was elected to three terms in the Illinois Senate\, where he represented communities across central and southwest Illinois. During this tenure\, he chaired the Senate Appropriations Committee and served as the Senate Democrats&rsquo\; chief budget negotiator\, playing a key role in bringing fiscal stability to Illinois. Manar championed and passed landmark\, bi-partisan legislation in 2017 to transform the State&rsquo\;s public school funding system to address deep inequities among school districts\, something that hadn&rsquo\;t been achieved in nearly three decades.
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\nPrior to his tenure in the Illinois Senate\, Manar has held several elected offices including Mayor of his hometown of Bunker Hill and Chairman of Macoupin County Board. He was also appointed Chief of Staff for Illinois Senate President John Cullerton before being elected to the Senate.
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\nAs Deputy Governor\, Manar&rsquo\;s portfolio of work includes management of nearly two dozen state departments\, agencies\, and commissions. Manar leads the administration&rsquo\;s budget development\, passage\, and implementation\, revenue policy\, management of public pension funds\, oversight of state property and assets\, as well as labor negotiations with the state workforce. Governor Pritzker has tasked Manar with the continuous improvement of the state&rsquo\;s fiscal health and efficient government operations. Manar&rsquo\;s efforts have produced annual balanced budgets with surpluses and numerous credit upgrades.
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\nIn addition to budget and fiscal responsibilities\, Manar leads the State&rsquo\;s efforts in fostering job creation\, business development and economic growth. His tenure as Deputy Governor has led to the passage and implementation of new tax incentives focuses on business attraction and expansion\, streamlining of permitting processes\, the launching of tailored workforce development initiatives focused on employers&rsquo\; needs\, and the development of ready sites to support companies re-locating to and expanding in Illinois.
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