Chambana 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 the Champaign-Urbana area include $250,000 to the Orpheum Children's Museum for expanding new facilities, $250,000 to the Orpheum Children's Science Museum for costs associated with expansion of the facility, $225,000 to Developmental Services Center of Champaign County for construction of a larger building, $200,000 to Disabled Citizens Foundation for costs associated with the construction and renovation of group homes, and $200,000 to the Urbana Park District for costs associated with the construction of the Meadowbrook Park Interpretive Center.

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 the Champaign-Urbana area 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	Orpheum Children’s Museum	Champaign	Champaign	$250,000	The sum of $250,000, 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 Orpheum Children’s Museum for expanding new facilities.
Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity	Orpheum Children’s Science Museum	Champaign	Champaign	$250,000	The sum of $250,000, 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 Orpheum Children’s Science Museum for costs associated with expansion of the facility.
Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity	Developmental Services Center of Champaign County	Champaign	Champaign	$225,000	The sum of $225,000, 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 Developmental Services Center of Champaign County for construction of a larger building.
Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity	Disabled Citizens Foundation	Champaign	Champaign	$200,000	The sum of $200,000, 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 Disabled Citizens Foundation for costs associated with the construction and renovation of group homes.
Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity	Urbana Park District	Urbana	Champaign	$200,000	The sum of $200,000, 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 Urbana Park District for costs associated with the construction of the Meadowbrook Park Interpretive Center.
Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity	Crisis Nursery in Urbana	Urbana	Champaign	$142,045	The sum of $142,045, 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 Crisis Nursery in Urbana for expanding new facilities.
Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity	Disabled Citizens Foundation	Champaign	Champaign	$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 Disabled Citizens Foundation for all costs associated with facility construction and capital improvements.
Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity	University of Illinois	Urbana	Champaign	$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 University of Illinois for all costs associated with infrastructure improvements to Robert Allerton Park.
Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity	American Legion Post 1015	Mahomet	Champaign	$55,000	The sum of $55,000, 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 American Legion Post 1015 for all costs associated with infrastructure improvements.
Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity	Fisher Community Foundation	Fisher	Champaign	$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 Fisher Community Foundation for Educational Enhancement for all costs associated with infrastructure improvements.
Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity	Preservation and Conservation Association	Champaign	Champaign	$31,923	The sum of $31,923, 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 Preservation and Conservation Association of Champaign for costs associated with renovations to the Harwood Solon House.
Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity	Mental Health Center of Champaign County	Champaign	Champaign	$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 Mental Health Center of Champaign County, Inc. for costs associated with renovations to facilities.
Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity	Champaign Park District	Champaign	Champaign	$3,605	The sum of $3,605, 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 Champaign Park District for costs associated with general infrastructure.
Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity	Preservation & Conservation Association of Champaign County	Champaign	Champaign	$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 Preservation & Conservation Association of Champaign County for construction and renovation.
Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity	Ludlow Community Consolidated School District #142	Ludlow	Champaign	$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 Ludlow Community Consolidated School District #142 for all costs associated with the construction of a lunch room addition and other infrastructure improvements.
Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity	Village of Ogden	Ogden	Champaign	$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 Ogden for all costs associated with infrastructure improvements.