Sangamon Sun

The Illinois General Assembly is looking to pass a bill that earmarks $166.5 million for various projects in lawmakers home districts across the state.

The bill, SB 2216 or the FY 18 Member Initiatives, contains appropriations for over 1,800 different projects across the state, with money coming from special state funds not related to the general operating budget. It was introduced by Sen. Bill Brady (R-Bloomington).

State Rep. David McSweeney (R-Barrington Hills) called the appropriations "earmarks" and "wasteful."

"I was shocked to see Senator Bill Brady's recently filed SB 2216, which is described as 'FY 18 Member Initiatives,'" McSweeney said. "Special earmarks lead to wasteful spending and potentially corruption. I strongly oppose special insider earmarks."

Projects in Sangamon County include $110,000 to the City of Springfield for general infrastructure improvements; $100,000 to the Illinois Channel Organization for all costs associated with the acquisition of a facility; and $100,000 to the Illinois Conservation Foundation for all costs associated with infrastructure improvements.

Some of the biggest of these appropriations include approximately $6.4 million to the Commuter Rail Division of the Regional Transportation Authority for a Metra station at Peterson Avenue and Ravenswood Avenue in Chicago; $3.75 million to Kankakee Community College for infrastructure improvements; and $3 million to the Chicago Park District for the construction of a sports recreation facility in Morgan Park.

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What projects in Sangamon County are being funded by SB 2216?

The table below shows the projects in the area that are being funded by this appropriations bill.

Department	Recipient	Recipient City	Recipient County	Total $	Copy
Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity	City of Springfield	Springfield	Sangamon	$110,000	The sum of $110,000, or so much thereof as may be necessary, is appropriated from the Build Illinois Bond Fund to the Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity for a grant to the City of Springfield for general infrastructure improvements.
Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity	Illinois Channel Organization	Springfield	Sangamon	$100,000	The sum of $100,000, or so much thereof as may be necessary, is appropriated from the Build Illinois Bond Fund to the Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity for a grant to the Illinois Channel Organization for all costs associated with acquisition of a facility.
Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity	Illinois Conservation Foundation	Springfield	Sangamon	$100,000	The sum of $100,000, or so much thereof as may be necessary, is appropriated from the Build Illinois Bond Fund to the Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity for a grant to the Illinois Conservation Foundation for all costs associated with infrastructure improvements.
Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity	Boys and Girls Club of Springfield	Springfield	Sangamon	$75,000	Section 160. The sum of $75,000, or so much thereof as may be necessary, is appropriated from the Build Illinois Bond Fund to the Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity for a grant to the Boys and Girls Club of Springfield for all costs associated with infrastructure improvements.
Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity	Downtown Springfield, Inc.	Springfield	Sangamon	$75,000	The sum of $75,000, or so much thereof as may be necessary, is appropriated from the Build Illinois Bond Fund to the Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity for a grant to Downtown Springfield, Inc. for all costs associated with infrastructure improvements.
Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity	Illinois State Police Heritage Foundation	Springfield	Sangamon	$75,000	The sum of $75,000, or so much thereof as may be necessary, is appropriated from the Build Illinois Bond Fund to the Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity for a grant to the Illinois State Police Heritage Foundation for all costs associated with infrastructure improvements.
Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity	Oak Ridge Neighborhood Association	Springfield	Sangamon	$50,000	The sum of $50,000, or so much thereof as may be necessary, is appropriated from the Build Illinois Bond Fund to the Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity for a grant to the Oak Ridge Neighborhood Association for all costs associated with infrastructure improvements.
Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity	Enos Park Neighborhood Association	Springfield	Sangamon	$50,000	The sum of $50,000, or so much thereof as may be necessary, is appropriated from the Build Illinois Bond Fund to the Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity for a grant to the Enos Park Neighborhood Association for all costs associated with park improvements.
Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity	Kumler Outreach Ministries	Springfield	Sangamon	$50,000	The sum of $50,000, or so much thereof as may be necessary, is appropriated from the Build Illinois Bond Fund to the Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity for a grant to Kumler Outreach Ministries for all costs associated with infrastructure improvements.
Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity	Senior Services of Central Illinois	Springfield	Sangamon	$50,000	The sum of $50,000, or so much thereof as may be necessary, is appropriated from the Build Illinois Bond Fund to the Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity for a grant to Senior Services of Central Illinois for all costs associated with infrastructure improvements.
Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity	Village of Curran	Curran	Sangamon	$39,000	The sum of $39,000, or so much thereof as may be necessary, is appropriated from the Build Illinois Bond Fund to the Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity for a grant to the Village of Curran for all costs associated with sanitary sewer system renovations and improvements and/or construction of a roadway.
Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity	Boys and Girls Club of Springfield	Springfield	Sangamon	$35,000	The sum of $35,000, or so much thereof as may be necessary, is appropriated from the Build Illinois Bond Fund to the Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity for a grant to the Boys and Girls Club of Springfield for costs associated with building and infrastructure improvements.
Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity	Village of Berlin	Berlin	Sangamon	$27,000	The sum of $27,000, or so much thereof as may be necessary, is appropriated from the Build Illinois Bond Fund to the Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity for a grant to the Village of Berlin for all costs associated with lighting and parking lot repairs.
Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity	Village of Berlin	Berlin	Sangamon	$25,000	The sum of $25,000, or so much thereof as may be necessary, is appropriated from the Build Illinois Bond Fund to the Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity for a grant to the Village of Berlin for Berlin Park for all costs associated with playground equipment and lighting.
Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity	Twin Lake Homeowners Association	Springfield	Sangamon	$25,000	The sum of $25,000, or so much thereof as may be necessary, is appropriated from the Build Illinois Bond Fund to the Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity for a grant to the Twin Lake Homeowners Association for all costs associated with infrastructure improvements.
Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity	Iles Park Neighborhood Association	Springfield	Sangamon	$25,000	The sum of $25,000, or so much thereof as may be necessary, is appropriated from the Build Illinois Bond Fund to the Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity for a grant to the Iles Park Neighborhood Association for all costs associated with infrastructure improvements.
Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity	Harvard Park Neighborhood Association	Springfield	Sangamon	$25,000	The sum of $25,000, or so much thereof as may be necessary, is appropriated from the Build Illinois Bond Fund to the Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity for a grant to the Harvard Park Neighborhood Association for all costs associated with infrastructure improvements.
Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity	Oakhill Cemetery of Clearlake	Springfield	Sangamon	$25,000	The sum of $25,000, or so much thereof as may be necessary, is appropriated from the Build Illinois Bond Fund to the Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity for a grant to Oakhill Cemetery of Clearlake for all costs associated with infrastructure improvements.
Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity	Vinegar Hill Neighborhood Association	Springfield	Sangamon	$25,000	The sum of $25,000, or so much thereof as may be necessary, is appropriated from the Build Illinois Bond Fund to the Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity for a grant to the Vinegar Hill Neighborhood Association for all costs associated with sidewalk and lighting improvements.
Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity	Illinois State Fair Museum Foundation	Springfield	Sangamon	$9,375	The sum of $9,375, or so much thereof as may be necessary, is appropriated from the Build Illinois Bond Fund to the Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity for a grant to the Illinois State Fair Museum Foundation for all costs associated with infrastructure improvements.
Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity	Village of Spaulding	Spaulding	Sangamon	$1	The sum of $1, or so much thereof as may be necessary, is appropriated from the Build Illinois Bond Fund to the Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity for a grant to the Village of Spaulding for all costs associated with the purchase and installation of tornado sirens.
Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity	Free Mason Central Lodge #3	Springfield	Sangamon	$1	The sum of $1, or so much thereof as may be necessary, is appropriated from the Build Illinois Bond Fund to the Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity for a grant to Free Mason Central Lodge #3 for all costs associated with capital improvements.