SPRINGFIELD, Ill. (WJPF) — Illinois Comptroller Susana Mendoza says the state’s bill backlog has been virtually paid off.

At its height, Illinois’ bill backlog neared $17 billion. Mendoza says, as of Wednesday, about $3.5 billion in bills are outstanding, which is within the thirty day payment cycle commonly found in the private sector. The oldest commercial vouchers owed to vendors in the comptroller’s office are dated Monday, April 26.

“This is a remarkable day that I have been working toward since I took office in December 2016 amid the budget impasse when the previous administration was paying nursing homes and hospice centers up to a year late and they let the backlog climb to $16.7 billion,” Comptroller Mendoza said.

“Today’s achievement is the result of diligent daily management of the state’s cash flow by my office, supported by state agencies that now provide monthly updates on the number of bills and late payment interest penalties they are holding at their offices.”

The backlog does not include the over $3.6 billion the state borrowed mainly from the federal reserve during the height of the COVID-19 pandemic. Mendoza continues to stress the importance of using any funds from the federal American Rescue Plan must be used first to pay back that borrowing.

“I’ll say it as often as I need to: Illinois must craft a balanced state budget for fiscal year 2022 without depending on the one-time federal relief money the state received,” Mendoza said. “Responsible budget-making directs the fate of the backlog as we continue making headway with our finances and show taxpayers and the credit rating agencies that we’re serious about restoring Illinois’ financial stability.”