Key takeaways
- Illinois state government spent $139.8 billion in fiscal 2024, the 4th most of any state.
- Statewide purchasing runs through the Chief Procurement Office, and vendors register and find bids in BidBuy.
- The fiscal year starts July 1; the governor's FY2028 budget proposal usually comes in February (3rd Wednesday).
- The 2027 legislative session convenes Jan. 13 and is scheduled to adjourn May 31.
Illinois government at a glance
| Fact | Illinois |
|---|---|
| State spending, FY 2024 | $139.8 billion (4th of 50) |
| Fiscal year starts | July 1 |
| Next budget | FY2028 · proposal usually in February (3rd Wednesday) |
| 2027 legislative session | Jan. 13 to May 31 (139 days) |
| Central procurement office | Chief Procurement Office |
| Bid and vendor portal | BidBuy |
| State CIO | Brandon Ragle, Secretary and State CIO |
| Local governments | 6,930 total, including 3,218 special districts and 890 school districts |
| Public power and co-op utilities | 42 public power utilities and 26 electric co-ops |
| State prison population | 29,828 (end of 2023) |
How Illinois buys
- Central purchasing. The Chief Procurement Office handles statewide contracts and purchasing rules for state agencies.
- Where bids are posted. BidBuy is where vendors register and find state solicitations.
- Registering as a vendor. Our Illinois vendor registration guide walks through the steps, fees and documents.
- Agencies and local buyers. Many agencies, universities, cities, counties and school districts buy on their own or through cooperative contracts; see our cooperative purchasing guide.
Purchase thresholds
| Tier | Rule |
|---|---|
| Small purchases | Small purchases up to $100,000 (adjusted for inflation under the statute); $2,000 to $20,000 set aside for small businesses |
| Formal solicitation | Over the small purchase limit |
Source: 30 ILCS 500/20-20. Agency and local thresholds can differ; see our state procurement thresholds guide.
Budget and legislative calendar
- Fiscal year. Illinois' fiscal year starts July 1. The next budget covers FY2028.
- Governor's proposal. Usually released in February (3rd Wednesday). Status as of Nov. 8, 2026: not yet released. Track it in our governor budget proposals tracker.
- 2027 session. Convenes Jan. 13 and is scheduled to adjourn May 31. See the 2027 legislative session calendar.
Technology and AI
- State CIO. Brandon Ragle, Secretary and State CIO, leads the Department of Innovation and Technology. See the full state CIO directory.
- AI policy. Our tracker counts 1 executive order, 1 law and 1 agency policy on government AI use, plus an AI office or council. See the state AI policy tracker.
- How IT buying works. See how state agencies buy technology.
Largest public buyers in Illinois
The biggest Illinois entities on our national rankings. Each one runs its own budget and, in most cases, its own purchasing.
| Buyer | Type | Size | National rank |
|---|---|---|---|
| Chicago | City | 2,731,585 residents (2025) | 3 of 100 largest cities |
| Cook County | County | 5,194,625 residents (2025) | 2 of 100 largest counties |
| DuPage County | County | 934,298 residents (2025) | 61 of 100 largest counties |
| Lake County | County | 719,339 residents (2025) | 98 of 100 largest counties |
| City of Chicago SD 299 | School district | 329,836 students (fall 2021) | 3 of 100 largest districts |
| University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign | Public university | 59,238 students (fall 2024) | 10 of 40 largest |
| City Colleges of Chicago | Community college | 34,446 students | 14 of 18 largest |
| Chicago Transit Authority | Transit agency | 279,146,500 trips (2023) | 2 of 50 largest |
| Northeast Illinois Reg. Commuter Railroad Corp. | Transit agency | 31,988,100 trips (2023) | 31 of 50 largest |
| Chicago O'Hare International | Airport | 40,680,735 passengers boarded (2025) | 3 of 100 busiest |
| Chicago Midway International | Airport | 9,367,712 passengers boarded (2025) | 31 of 100 busiest |
| Chicago Department of Water Management | Water utility | 2,746,388 people served | 3 of 208 largest |
| Springfield City Water, Light & Power | Public power utility | 71,179 electric customers (2024) | 46 of 50 largest |
| Chicago (IL) Police | Police department | 11,965 sworn officers (2016) | 2 of 50 largest |
| Cook County Health | Public hospital system | $5.1 billion (FY2026) | — |
| Illinois Department of Healthcare and Family Services | State agency | More than $47B FY2027 appropriation budget | 5 of 16 largest |
Sources: KSG rankings of the largest cities, counties, school districts, public universities, transit agencies, airports, water utilities, public power utilities, police departments and other lists. Figures are from each list's source year.
Local government and utilities
- 6,930 local governments. That includes 3,218 special districts and 890 school districts. See special districts by state.
- Utilities. 42 public power utilities and 26 electric cooperatives serve 590,922 customers, 13% of the state. See Illinois utilities.
- Budget cycles. Cities, counties and school districts set their own fiscal years; see city and county budget calendars.
Illinois state holidays in 2027
Besides the 11 federal holidays, Illinois state offices close on these days in 2027:
- Lincoln's Birthday: Friday, Feb. 12 (Connecticut, Illinois, Missouri, New York)
See the full 2027 federal and state holiday calendar.
How KSG helps
Kensington Sales Group's SDRs book meetings with public agencies across Federal, SLED, K-12 & Higher Ed, Healthcare, Tribal, Special Districts and Utilities. We research Illinois buyers, time outreach to state and local budget cycles and get you in front of the people who own the problem you solve. See how our state and local sales development works.
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