Jacksonville Mayor Andy Ezard | Courtesy Photo
Jacksonville Mayor Andy Ezard | Courtesy Photo
Illinois taxpayers are being billed large amounts of money for the state to maintain vacant properties, a News Channel 20 investigation found.
In one instance, investigators found that the cost to taxpayers last year to maintain the abandoned Jacksonville Developmental Center spiraled to $671,240.
"The state property is about 100 acres," Jacksonville Mayor Andy Ezard told Channel News 20. "So, it's a big parcel of land. Moving forward after it closed, buildings deteriorate. They're, in my estimation, not salvageable now."
In 2020, the report found that taxpayers spent $1.78 million to maintain the zombie properties.
News 20 reported that state law makes selling the properties difficult, placing a number of stringent rules and guidelines in place before any sell can happen.
Illinois State Sen. John Conner recently introduced legislation, which would change the State Surplus Property Control Act to allow the state to sell properties below market value.
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