McLean County Times

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 McLean County include $750,000 to the City of Bloomington for all costs associated with enhancement to parks and trails; $400,000 to the Illinois Women's Military and Civilian Memorial Inc. for all costs associated with building a military and civilian memorial for women who have served in times of war; $375,000 to the Town of Normal for all costs associated with enhancement of parks and trails; and $200,000 to St. Robert Bellarmine Catholic Newman Center for all costs associated with construction of a student services building at Illinois State University.

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 McLean 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 Bloomington	Bloomington	McLean	$750,000	The sum of $750,000, 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 Bloomington for all costs associated with enhancement to parks and trails.
Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity	Illinois Women’s Military and Civilian Memorial Inc	Bloomington	McLean	$400,000	The sum of $400,000, 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 Women’s Military and Civilian Memorial Inc. for all costs associated with building a military and civilian memorial for women who have served in times of war.
Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity	Town of Normal	Normal	McLean	$375,000	The sum of $375,000, 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 Town of Normal for all costs associated with enhancement of parks and trails.
Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity	St. Robert Bellarmine Catholic Newman Center	Normal	McLean	$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 St. Robert Bellarmine Catholic Newman Center for all costs associated with construction of a student services building at Illinois State University.
Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity	YWCA McLean County	Bloomington	McLean	$135,000	The sum of $135,000, 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 YWCA McLean County for all costs associated with infrastructure improvements.
Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity	YWCA McLean County	Bloomington	McLean	$135,000	The sum of $135,000, 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 YWCA McLean County for all costs associated with infrastructure improvements.
Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity	Bloomington-Normal YMCA	Bloomington	McLean	$135,000	The sum of $135,000, 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 Bloomington-Normal YMCA for all costs associated with infrastructure improvements.
Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity	Heartland Community College	Normal	McLean	$86,131	The sum of $86,131, 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 Heartland Community College for all costs associated with construction of Challenger Learning Center facilities.
Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity	David Davis Mansion Foundation	Bloomington	McLean	$60,000	The sum of $60,000, 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 David Davis Mansion Foundation for all costs associated with construction and/or improvements at the Visitor’s Center, including, but not limited to, handicap accessibility.
Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity	City of Leroy Fire Department	Le Roy	McLean	$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 Leroy Fire Department for all costs associated with the purchase of equipment and/or infrastructure improvements.
Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity	Illinois State University	Normal	McLean	$37,145	The sum of $37,145, 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 Illinois State University for all costs associated with construction in the ROTC Building.
Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity	Village of Carlock	Carlock	McLean	$30,000	The sum of $30,000, 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 Carlock for all costs associated with infrastructure improvements.
Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity	Village of Cooksville	Cooksville	McLean	$30,000	The sum of $30,000, 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 Cooksville for all costs associated with infrastructure improvements.
Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity	Village of Downs	Downs	McLean	$30,000	The sum of $30,000, 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 Downs for all costs associated with infrastructure improvements.
Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity	Village of Ellsworth	Ellsworth	McLean	$30,000	The sum of $30,000, 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 Ellsworth for all costs associated with infrastructure improvements.
Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity	Village of Gridley	Gridley	McLean	$30,000	The sum of $30,000, 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 Gridley for all costs associated with infrastructure improvements.
Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity	Village of Hudson	Hudson	McLean	$30,000	The sum of $30,000, 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 Hudson for all costs associated with infrastructure improvements.
Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity	LeRoy Community Fire Protection District	Le Roy	McLean	$30,000	The sum of $30,000, 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 LeRoy Community Fire Protection District for all costs associated with capital expenditures, to include all prior incurred costs.
Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity	City of Leroy	Le Roy	McLean	$30,000	The sum of $30,000, 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 Leroy for all costs associated with infrastructure improvements.
Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity	City of Lexington	Lexington	McLean	$30,000	The sum of $30,000, 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 Lexington for all costs associated with infrastructure improvements.
Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity	Village of Towanda	Towanda	McLean	$30,000	The sum of $30,000, or so much thereof as may be necessary, is appropriated from the Build Illinois Bond Fundto the Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity for a grant to the Village of Towanda for all costs associated with infrastructure improvements.
Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity	Village of Downs	Downs	McLean	$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 Downs for all costs associated with infrastructure improvements.
Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity	Village of Saybrook	Saybrook	McLean	$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 Saybrook for all costs associated with infrastructure improvements.
Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity	Randolph Township Fire Protection District	Randolph Township	McLean	$22,500	The sum of $22,500, 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 Randolph Township Fire Protection District for all costs associated with renovation of the Fire Station, for the purchase of land for a fire station, or for the construction of a new fire station at a different location.
Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity	Village of Bellflower	Bellflower	McLean	$20,000	The sum of $20,000, 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 Bellflower for all costs associated with infrastructure improvements.
Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity	Village of Hudson	Hudson	McLean	$18,750	The sum of $18,750, 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 Hudson for all costs associated with infrastructure improvements.
Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity	Allin Township	Allin Township	McLean	$15,000	The sum of $15,000, 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 Allin Township for all costs associated with infrastructure improvements.
Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity	Village of Anchor	Anchor	McLean	$6,200	The sum of $6,200, 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 Anchor for all costs associated with infrastructure improvements.
Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity	City of Chenoa	Chenoa	McLean	$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 City of Chenoa for all costs associated with infrastructure improvements.
Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity	Village of Cooksville	Cooksville	McLean	$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 Cooksville for all costs associated with infrastructure improvements.
Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity	Village of Heyworth	Heyworth	McLean	$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 Heyworth for all costs associated with infrastructure and security improvements.
Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity	University High School	Normal	McLean	$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 University High School for all costs associated with renovation of boys’ and girls’ locker rooms.