MARYVILLE – Fitch Ratings has revised its outlook on Illinois’ General Obligation bonds from negative to positive, and State Senators Christopher Belt (D-Swansea) and Rachelle Aud Crowe (D-Glen Carbon) are commending the upgrade as a direct result of responsible spending.

“Over recent years, Illinois has made strides toward fiscal responsibility by including cost-saving initiatives in our budget, such as reducing the bill backlog,” Crowe said. “While our state continues to progress to a more financially stable position, this outlook upgrade ensures we are on a path to a brighter future.”

Fitch’s is the third ratings agency to upgrade the state’s forecast, in addition to Standard and Poor’s, and Moody’s.

According to Fitch’s analysis, the state budget for the upcoming fiscal year provides Illinois a stable foundation for further financial improvement. Recent debt payments and a reduction of nearly a billion dollars in spending since 2020—without sacrificing funding for pensions, K-12 or higher education—suggest responsible budget management and movement toward fiscal stability.

“I am thrilled to see Fitch Ratings has lifted their outlook on our state’s finances,” Belt said. “This outlook shows we are making responsible economic policy decisions and moving forward as a state from the pandemic.”

Fitch’s full analysis is available here.

East St. Louis – State Senator Christopher Belt (D-Swansea) is reminding people to look out for text and email scams asking for personal information from someone pegging themselves as the Illinois Department of Transportation.

“With the increase in hacking, residents need to be aware of who they are giving personal information to,” Belt said. “I urge everyone to take precaution when receiving a text message or email saying it’s from IDOT.”

While the messages might look official, IDOT will not request personal information, such as Social Security numbers or bank information, via text or email.

To protect personal information, take the following precautions:

• Delete unsolicited emails and texts requesting personal information or promising state driver’s licenses or IDs;
• Do not click on any links contained in such emails or texts, as they may place malware on your computer or devices;
• Hang up on any calls, including robocalls that ask you to take immediate action or provide personally identifiable information;
• Ask to use other types of identifiers besides your Social Security number;
• Keep software up to date, including operating systems and antivirus protection programs on your computer, phone and other device

“I have no respect for those who participate in fraudulent schemes,” Belt said. “IDOT will not ask for your personal information through text or email, and the department is working around the clock to keep you safe.”

EAST ST. LOUIS – State Senator Christopher Belt (D-Swansea) is proud to announce two local fire departments will receive funding through the Small Equipment Grant Program, administered by the Office of the Illinois State Fire Marshal for equipment upgrades.

“This program gives eligible departments the opportunity to purchase small equipment that they may otherwise not be able to afford,” Belt said. “Thanks to the small equipment grants, these fire departments will be able to provide better service to residents and families in our community.”

The Small Equipment Grant Program was established by the Office of the State Fire Marshal to provide grants of up to $26,000 to support small firefighting and ambulance equipment purchases. A total of $3.3 million was awarded to 149 fire departments and EMS providers across the state through the program.

Two grant recipients are located within the 57th Senate District:

• French Village Fire Department - $20,282.28
• East St. Louis Fire Department - $26,000

“Departments have had to make tough financial decisions, especially this year during the COVID-19 pandemic,” said Illinois State Fire Marshal Matt Perez. “The Small Equipment Grant Program helps reduce the burden on smaller departments/districts while replacing aging and sometimes failing small equipment.”

A complete list of recipients and awards can be found on the OSFM website.

East St. Louis – To encourage summer reading, State Senator Christopher Belt (D-Swansea) is launching a Summer Reading Club for children and young people who live in the 57th State Senate District.

Belt is launching the club to counteract summer learning loss, which occurs when students “turn off their brains” during the summer months.

“It’s important for kids to become stronger readers to succeed in school and life,” Belt said. “I hope this book club encourages healthy brain development and lifelong learning.”

Studies indicate that 2 months of reading skills and 2 ½ months of math skills are lost over a single summer.

Read more: Belt encourages kids to join Summer Book Club