SPRINGFIELD – Gov. Pat Quinn’s administration must pay $60 million in wage increases promised last year to state workers – eventually – a Cook County judge has ruled.

Circuit Judge Richard Billik Jr. decreed in an order made public Friday that regardless of whether the state budget has enough money, Quinn can’t renege on contractual pay hikes negotiated with the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees.

The state must pay what it can now, and cough up the rest of it when funds become available – at 7 percent interest, Billik said.