The Illinois Is Broke campaign announced today that it will take its message of real state budget reform to Will County to let residents know that Illinois is nearly bankrupt and that reforms are urgently needed. The unfunded obligations of the state’s public pension funds and retiree health care programs approaches $130 billion – more than $25,000 per Illinois household.

“Illinois is broke and we need everyone to call on their state leaders to fix it. This is the most important issue facing Illinois today, and it needs to be addressed now to save our state from financial implosion,” said R. Eden Martin, president of the Civic Committee of The Commercial Club of Chicago.

The statewide tour of the Illinois is Broke campaign, a group of business and civic leaders, social service agencies and Illinois citizens, is stopping at the Will County Fair this week and will be providing educational and informational materials to the public. The campaign’s goal is to convince elected officials to address the state’s ongoing budget deficits and the massive unfunded retirement obligations through sensible reforms to pensions and retiree health care programs for current state employees as well as future hires.

As part of its efforts to raise awareness of the state’s financial crisis, the campaign will distribute magnets, buttons, stickers and t-shirts directing people to the campaign’s website, www.IllinoisIsBroke.com, where the public can reach out directly to their legislators. Will County is just one of many stops the campaign has made throughout the state during the past few months.  To learn more about the Illinois is Broke campaign for real budget reform, please visit www.illinoisisbroke.com.