The state of Illinois’ backlog of unpaid bills has climbed to nearly $4 billion – the largest total in state history.Comptroller Daniel Hynes warned on Thursday that state finances are so bad that the backlog could hit $5 billion by next spring.The Chicago Democrat says it would be an understatement to call this an imminent crisis.The backlog is money that the state owes to people and businesses that provide services to the state. Much of it is payment to hospitals, pharmacies and nursing homes who provide health care to the poor.Hynes is asking state officials to ease the rules on short-term borrowing and to set up a line of credit so he can get cash to pay bills.
