After months of calling on Governor Pat Quinn to freeze hiring and spending, Senator Tim Bivins says his district legislative office has come in under budget for the third year in a row.

Senator Bivins finished the fiscal year with money to spare in his legislative account – which he has returned to the state’s coffers.

“We came in under budget by about 32 percent, so I am putting my money where my mouth is, and returning $26,817 to the state. I figure if I ask the Governor to cut back, then I need to do the same,” Senator Bivins said. “I learned my budgeting skills from working as a county sheriff—we were consistently under budget, even in the lean years.”

The 45th District Senator says he also chose to not print and mail his annual legislative newsletter because of the state’s financial crunch.

“It is important that lawmakers report to their constituents after each legislative session and update them on what new laws were passed, and about the state’s financial condition,” Senator Bivins said. “I decided the expense was too much this year because of the state’s fiscal constraints. The information that would have been in a newsletter can be found on my legislative Web site at http://bivins.senategop.org/.”