How Much Could You Buy with Illinois' Budget Deficit?

If you haven’t already heard, a new report by the Institute for Government and Public Affairs at the University of Illinois projects the state will owe $9 billion in unpaid bills in fiscal year 2016, which begins July 1, 2015.

That’s a lot of money -- and roughly $3 billion more than previously reported -- but it’s hard to think about a number with so many zeros in concrete terms.

For that reason, we put together an infographic that shows you how much you could buy with the state’s debt. It is quite mindboggling when you think in terms of pizza, coffee and new cars.

Speaking of money, here’s how much it cost per vote to win the 2014 Illinois governor’s race, as well as what it cost to lose.

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