By Illinois Public Radio
Springfield, Ill. – Hundreds of millions of dollars hang in the balance as the Illinois Supreme Court considers a lawsuit against the state.
More than 300 fees have gone up in the past two years to help balance the state's budget.
The Illinois Chamber of Commerce is suing over a business fee that more than doubled.
Chamber President Doug Whitley says the increase was improper.
"It was strictly an arbitrary number and our point is that there has to be some standard by which the Legislature applies fee increases," Whitley said.
The fee in question pays for the state panel that hears workers' compensation cases.
Whitley says the amount raised is well above what is needed to cover the board's operations.
An attorney for the state says fees don't have to match the costs exactly.
The Supreme Court could take several months before making a decision.