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 Sen. 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 Rock Island County include $1 million to Blackhawk College for energy efficient infrastructure upgrades; $100,000 to the Village of Milan for general infrastructure improvements; and $80,000 to the Hope Creek Care Center Auxiliary for general 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 and Ravenswood avenues 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 Rock Island 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 | Blackhawk College | Moline | Rock Island | $1,000,000 | The sum of $1,000,000, 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 Blackhawk College for energy efficient infrastructure upgrades. |
| Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity | Village of Milan | Milan | Rock Island | $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 Village of Milan for general infrastructure improvements. |
| Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity | Hope Creek Care Center Auxiliary | East Moline | Rock Island | $80,000 | The sum of $80,000, 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 Hope Creek Care Center Auxiliary for general infrastructure improvements. |
| Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity | Village of Andalusia | Andalusia | Rock Island | $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 Village of Andalusia for general infrastructure improvements. |
| Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity | Village of New Windsor | New Windsor | Mercer | $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 Village of New Windsor for general infrastructure improvements. |
| Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity | City of Rock Island | Rock Island | Rock Island | $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 City of Rock Island for general infrastructure improvements. |
| Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity | Moline School District 40 | Moline | Rock Island | $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 Moline School District 40 for general infrastructure improvements. |
| Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity | City of Rock Island | Rock Island | Rock Island | $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 City of Rock Island for general infrastructure improvements. |
| Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity | City of Rock Island | Rock Island | Rock Island | $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 City of Rock Island for general infrastructure improvements. |
| Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity | Rock Island-Milan School District 41 | Rock Island | Rock Island | $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 Rock Island-Milan School District 41 for general infrastructure improvements. |
| Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity | Sterling YMCA | Sterling | Whiteside | $16,367 | The sum of $16,367, 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 Sterling YMCA for all costs associated with roof replacement. |
| Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity | Village of Atkinson | Atkinson | Henry | $13,906 | The sum of $13,906, 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 Atkinson for all costs associated with emergency and industrial water well activation phase I. |
| Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity | City of Rock Falls | Rock Falls | Whiteside | $9,300 | The sum of $9,300, 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 Rock Falls for all costs associated with capital improvements. |
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