* Broad categories of how the new infrastructure money will be spent over the next six years, according to the Senate Democrats…
$33.2 billion for transportation projects
$3.5 billion for education projects
$4.3 billion for state facility projects
$1.9 billion for economic development/community development
$1.2 billion for environmental and conservation projects
$465 million for Healthcare and Human Services
$420 million for broadband expansion
* I asked the Illinois Environmental Council for a breakdown of their capital projects. Here’s a quick summary…
Transportation
Approximately 22.5% share for mass transit.
20% of the revenue from the gas tax increase will go to transit annually.
$50 million annually for bike and pedestrian infrastructure.
Sustainable Agriculture
There is a $37 million reappropriation for the Conservation Reserve Enhancement Program and $20 million of new funding in the capital plan.
Open Space
$10 million for the Natural Areas Acquisition Fund
$25 million of new appropriation for land acquisition for Open Lands Trust
$23 million for Open Space Land Acquisition Developmen.
$50 million for parks
Clean Energy
$70 million for renewable energy and energy efficiency programs. This is sufficient funding for 5% of state building energy usage.
$70 million for electric vehicle infrastructure in low income communities.
Clean Water
$200 million for the Water Revolving Fund
$10 million for flood mitigation
$2.5 million for Brandon Road planning
$20 million for dam removal
$25 million for green infrastructure grants
$23 million for U.S. Army Corp of Engineers on ecosystem restoration projects
The full list of the IEC’s budget and capital plan wins is here.
The bill includes $50 million annually for walking and bicycling projects. Funds will be administered statewide through a competitive grant process using the existing Illinois Transportation Enhancement Program (ITEP), which is currently entirely federally funded.
The additional funds from the state will double the size of the program and could fund 125 new projects every year. […]
Eligible projects include pedestrian refuge islands, new trails and upgraded crossings, protected bike lanes, and other safety infrastructure. The bill includes reforms to the program that make it easier for low-income communities to apply and secure funding.
The capital bill also includes sustainable funding for public transit for the first time ever. Transit receives $4.7 billion over six years and $281 million annually in capital funds after that. Public transit receives 23 percent of the transportation funding in the bill.
The group lauded the inclusion of the following items in the bill:
New service to Rockford
New service to Moline
Track improvements for Chicago – Champaign – Carbondale
Track improvements in Springfield
Expanded Metra service into Kendall County
Funding for the CREATE program to relieve freight rail congestion
[…]
Pace
“This will be the largest one-time capital infusion in Pace’s history and allows us to maintain the robust system we currently operate and lay the foundation for future growth,” said executive director Rocky Donahue in a statement. “Projects such as the I-55 Express Bus Garage; ADA Communications Technology Upgrade; River Division Expansion; and a new northwest region garage in Wheeling will now become reality thanks to our legislators. We’re excited to get to work.”
$105.3 million for a health sciences building and other improvements at Southern Illinois University Edwardsville
$96 million for an expansion of MetroLink from Scott Air Force Base to MidAmerica Airport
$37.5 million for main complex renovation and repairs at Lewis and Clark Community College
$24.4 million for the U.S. 67 Delhi Bypass in Jersey County
$24 million for miscellaneous capital improvements at SIUE
$2 million for East St. Louis for demolition of derelict buildings and abandoned properties
* Other stuff…
* U Of I President ‘Delighted’ By New State Budget: The capital projects funding includes $98 million for a computer, design and research center at the Chicago campus; $100 million for a mathematics, statistics and data science collaborative at the Urbana-Champaign campus, and $35 million for a new library at the University of Illinois at Springfield, according to Killeen. Another $500 million was re-appropriated for construction and planning of the Discovery Partners Institute, and 15 research hubs at each university and satellite campus. Killeen said capital projects funding will also be used to pay for “very needed renovations that have sort of languished.”
* Will County big winner after busy end to session: The new state capital bill includes $848 million for Interstate 80, although it was unclear whether the funding included replacement of the Des Plaines River bridges. The capital bill also includes $19.8 million for Joliet Junior College and $55 million to for a new Illinois State Police facility, said state Sen. Pat McGuire, D-Joliet. … McGuire said the state police project includes replacement of both an aging crime lab on Woodruff Road in Joliet and the District 5 headquarters on Route 53. The facilities would be consolidated.
* Sen. Fowler Says His District Did Well in Legislative Session: Senator Dale Fowler of Harrisburg says the budget includes lump sum money for ports across the state, including his proposal for a facility at Cairo. “I believe it’s going to be in July, we’re going to start our meetings on how we’re going to move forward with continued design and engineering of the process and get shovels down in Cairo.” As far as the capital bill goes, Fowler says his district will receive as much, if not more, than any other in the state. “My district alone, the 59th district, is scheduled to receive over $270 million in capital spending funding for roads and bridges that so desperately need repair and well over 100 projects that are designed for my district.”
* Illinois Lawmakers Approve Sports Betting; Chicago And Southern Illinois Get A Casino: State Rep. Terri Bryant (R- Murphysboro), said prisons and universities have been looking for ways to fund their crumbling infrastructure. “At SIU Carbondale, we have four buildings that have to have new roofs, because they’ve had to move computers out of an entire room, simply to be able to keep those computers from having water drip on them from the ceiling.” Bryant voted in favor of the plan.
* New UIS building funded in capital bill re-imagines library: The center will replace Brookens Library and will house the Center for Online Learning Research and Service (COLRS), the Center for Academic Success (CAS) and Information Technology Services.
* Macoupin courthouse gets $1M boost: The courthouse is on the National Register of Historic Places and has been named one of Illinois’ great places by the American Institute of Architects. Years of delayed maintenance on the building, however, have left it in need of repairs.
* Manar wants to make sure Ward 3 gets targeted help: As part of the $45 billion construction program passed by the Illinois General Assembly and awaiting the governor’s signature, there is a $500,000 grant designated for “costs associated with infrastructure improvements within Ward 3” in the city of Springfield. Also included is up to $400,000 for “costs associated with roadway improvements of Adloff Lane,” which is also in Ward 3. “I am very excited for Ward 3, Springfield and the state of Illinois,” said Ward 3 Ald. Doris Turner. “This was an epic legislative session.” … Up to $122 million for rail improvements for Springfield is also in the legislation.
* Peoria Mayor Reacts to Capital Bill: Among the projects approved for the Peoria area are: up to $1 million to Peoria Public Schools to improve Garfield school; $250,000 to the Tri-County Urban league for building repairs; $250,000 to tuckpoint and repair windows on the Peoria Labor Temple
Illinois Republican Party Chairman Tim Schneider has a message for any voters who are unhappy with the way the latest legislative session went in Springfield.
“If you don’t like the outcome of this session, remember that the Democrats hold all the cards — at the moment,” Schneider said in a press release. “If you don’t like the outcome of this session, the only solution is to work. Work for local, legislative or statewide candidates who take on the mantle of reform.”
The flurry of bills signed into law by Gov. J.B. Pritzker after being passed by his Democratic majority during the final hours of the session were particularly disheartening for GOP leaders who, Schneider said, could do little to stop them.
“Governor Pritzker and Speaker [Mike] Madigan set the parameters,” Schneider said in the release. “They determined what policies to enact and what reforms were ignored. They didn’t need a single Republican vote.”
Maybe they didn’t “need” a single Republican vote, but they sure got a lot of them. And the Republicans could do little to stop the Democrats? In reality, the Republicans extracted more pro-business reforms out of the Democrats than Bruce Rauner did in four years as governor.
From House GOP Leader Jim Durkin…
“The end of this legislative was another historic moment for the House Republicans. Not only did we pass a bipartisan, balanced budget without any tax increases, but we also achieved significant business reforms for our communities that will boost the economy across our state. As I’ve said before, we can get great things done for Illinois families as long as we respect the principles and priorities of each caucus. In doing so, we have passed historic education reform, two bipartisan, balanced budgets and now important reforms that will grow jobs. I am proud to have worked with the legislative leaders and the Governor to finally do what’s right for Illinois families and businesses.”
Reforms include:
· Creation of the Blue Collar Jobs Act – which will attract large scale construction projects.
· Creation of a Data Center Tax Incentive – which will enhance the state’s ability to locate data centers in Illinois by providing tax incentives.
· Reinstatement of the Manufacturer’s Purchase Credit – to encourage further investments in manufacturing in Illinois.
· Elimination of the antiquated Illinois Franchise Tax.
· Elimination of cap on the Retailer’s Discount.
· Tabling of Senate Bill 1407 – a bill that aimed to impose wage and regulatory requirements on refineries, ethanol plants, and chemical facilities.
The first year of a five-year phase-out of the franchise tax will reduce taxes for 300,000 businesses, supporters said. The Blue Collar Jobs Act will give tax credits for construction projects.
* The House Republicans introduced the Blue Collar Jobs Act last year. From the synopsis…
Provides that the Act may be referred to as the Blue Collar Jobs Act. Amends the Illinois Enterprise Zone Act. Creates a High Impact Business construction jobs credit and an Enterprise Zone construction jobs credit against the taxpayer’s Illinois income taxes based on the incremental income tax attributable to laborers or workers employed at certain construction sites located in Enterprise Zones. Amends the Economic Development for a Growing Economy Tax Credit Act. Creates a New Construction EDGE Credit based on the incremental income tax attributable to laborers or workers employed at construction sites associated with EDGE projects. Amends the River Edge Redevelopment Zone Act. Creates a River Edge construction jobs credit based on the incremental income tax attributable to laborers or workers employed at certain construction sites in a River Edge Redevelopment Zone. Requires contractors and subcontractors associated with projects that receive credits under the amendatory Act to file certified payroll information with the Department of Labor and the Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity.
Some of that stuff was phased in, but they got pretty much all they asked for.
…Adding… As hardcore Raunerite “Lucky Pierre” and other commenters have mentioned, the legislative Republicans also convinced the governor to back off his demand that the private school scholarship program be phased out. That was a huge win on its own, particularly considering how much the teachers’ unions wanted that program eliminated.
Expect a hiring boom from the state’s marijuana producers by the end of the year—and a likely boost in union membership.
The law that legalizes recreational marijuana use, which the General Assembly approved Friday, has two distinct features: a quick timeline and clear language that encourages union jobs. Existing players in the state’s medical-cannabis market plan to move into the bigger recreational business, resulting in a hiring surge that will dwarf the industry’s initial wave. […]
Cresco Labs will double its Illinois headcount from about 300 today, Bachtell said.
“To supply the adult use-market will require significant investment,” said Dina Rollman, GTI’s senior vice president for government and regulatory affairs, though she declined to quantify it. “There will be massive increases in headcount at production facilities and dispensaries. We’ll increase hiring at the facility level and corporate offices.” […]
Cresco and MedMen say they expect their employees eventually will be unionized. (MedMen, which is based in Los Angeles, already has workers in California and New York represented by the United Food & Commercial Workers union.)
The Illinois cannabis legislation contains multiple references to labor-peace agreements, which will be part of the selection criteria for applicants for new licenses for distribution centers. The intent of the legislation was clear: “to have good, well-paying union jobs in this industry,” Rep. Emanuel “Chris” Welch, a Democrat from Westchester, testified just before the vote May 31 in the Illinois House.
Yes, yes, yes. Your favorite horse track will likely have a sportsbook and basically a casino. They just don’t fall under the “sports venues” category.
The bill allows: -Casinos in Chicago, Waukegan, south suburbs, Rockford, Danville and Williamson County (So-IL) -Allows slots at O'Hare and Midway airports -Slots @ horse tracks -New horse track in Palatine -Video gaming facilities can add machines, gamblers can bet more on 'em https://t.co/EaRZFC1yTS
Gaming bill language has been filed. Chicago, Waukegan, Rockford, Danville would all get a license each to operate a casino. One license for one township in Cook County (Bloom, Bremen, Calumet, Rich, Thornton, or Worth Township), and one license for Williamson County.
The southern Illinois casino is going to Walker’s Bluff.
…Adding…The bill also authorizes up to 50 video gaming terminals during the Illinois State Fair in Springfield and up to 30 during the DuQuoin State Fair. Beer tents can have up to 10 terminals each.
The massive gambling bill that included a major casino in Chicago and smaller ones in the south suburbs and Waukegan also would open up slots for Chicago’s airports and the state’s horse racetracks, and legalize sports betting. It awaits Senate approval.
The Chicago casino would be privately owned, and the city would get one-third of all tax revenue from it. The casino would have up to 4,000 gambling positions — slot machines or seats at a gaming table — while other new and current casinos could increase their gambling positions from 1,200 to 2,000. It also would allow horse tracks to have 1,200 gambling positions.
For sports betting, licenses would go to all existing and newly authorized casinos as well as horse racetracks and sports venues with license fees ranging from $3.2 million to $10 million.
For the first year and a half, bettors would have to create an account at a licensed gambling facility and then could make deposits online afterward. After 18 months, three online licenses would be created at $20 million per license. Fantasy sports wagering firms could partner as an online vendor at casinos, racetracks or sports venues.
A lottery sports wagering program also would be created.
Sports leagues would not get any of the cut, and wagering on Illinois college teams would be prohibited by the legislation.
The bill, which the governor is expected to sign into law, grants retail casinos an 18-month head start on the mobile market. The casinos will be able to begin accepting bets almost immediately whereas all other entrants—such as DraftKings and FanDuel—will have to wait until late 2020 or early 2021 to begin operations. Eilers & Krejcik Gaming estimated that DraftKings and FanDuel accounted for 79 percent of New Jersey’s mobile betting market in April. Illinois will limit online-only sports books to three licenses, each to be sold for $20 million. Mobile betting is widely projected to capture at least three-quarters of the betting market.
DraftKings CEO Jason Robins criticized the bill on Twitter, writing, “While it is good to see sports betting bills passed, excluding DraftKings and FanDuel is like passing a ride sharing bill that excludes Uber and Lyft. Very disappointing that Illinois customers will not have the best options available to them for 18 months.”
While the leagues will not receive any kind of royalty or integrity fee, they will receive direct revenue from a provision requiring official league data for all in-play and prop bets. Illinois is now the second state to mandate this, following Tennessee’s new law in May.
Large sports venues such as the Bears’ Solider Field and the Cubs’ Wrigley Field would be able to apply for licenses to install betting kiosks on site. The only other current U.S. legislation to enable installations at stadiums, arenas, and ballparks is the one passed by the District of Columbia, though its regulations have not yet been finalized. Capitals, Wizards, and Mystics owner Ted Leonsis has championed legalized sports betting and plans to install a sportsbook at his Capital One Arena. Currently, the only sports venues where a fan can legally bet are the ones with mobile sports betting, such as in New Jersey and Pennsylvania.
SB 690 enables the Illinois Gaming Board to issue six different types of licences to operators seeking to offer sports betting in the state: a master sports wagering licence, occupational licence, supplier licence, management services provider licence, tier two official league data provider licence, and central system provider licence.
Each license will be applicable to a certain service or offering in the state, with the fee for a master licence to be set at 5% of the holder’s total handle from the following calendar year, up to a maximum of $10m
Additionally, the legislation permits a new harness track to be built in one of seven townships located within Cook County, which includes Chicago and both Chicago-area tracks. The new venue couldn’t be situated within 35 miles of either existing racing facility without the track granting permission. Harness tracks Maywood and Balmoral both ceased operations in recent years. Only a truncated harness meeting remains at Hawthorne. […]
The new legislation will fortify horse racing in the state because it specifies minimum racing dates for tracks that take on a casino license. If one casino license is issued to a Chicago track, that track must run 110 days the year it’s awarded, 115 the next, and 120 per year afterwards. If two casino licenses are issued to Chicago tracks those numbers rise to 139, 160, and 174. Fairmount would be required to run at least 700 races per year if it receives a gaming license. The legislation also boosts purses for Illinois-bred horses and monetary awards paid to the state’s breeders.
Within the capital measure to fund vertical projects, which include buildings, such as schools and recreational facilities, $150 million would come from an increase in video gaming terminal taxes; $10 million from sports wagering revenue; $500 million from upfront license fees from casino and sports betting; $30 million from a tax on parking garages and lots; $68 million from an increase on the real estate transfer tax on commercial properties; $45 million from removing the sales tax exemption on traded-in property valued above $10,000; and $156 million from an increase on the cigarette tax by $1 per pack.
State Senator Terry Link, a Democrat from Vernon Hills, has pushed for years to expand casino gambling. He finally got his wish Sunday, on his wedding anniversary.
“For the sake of my marriage, for the sake of the state of Illinois, vote this out with your green lights,” Link said.
The bill passed the Senate 46-10-2. Senate Republican Leader Bill Brady voted “Present”…
State Sen. Bill Brady of Bloomington has financial ties to the company that operates half the video gambling terminals in Bloomington-Normal.
State records show Ellsworth-based Midwest Electronics Gaming has brought in $18 million from video gambling terminals in Bloomington-Normal over the last two years. That’s the firm ProPublica reported has financial ties to Brady, the Senate minority leader.
State and municipal records show Midwest Gaming licenses 174 terminals at 39 establishments in the Twin Cities. That’s about half.
When the gambling expansion bill was approved by the Illinois Senate last week, state Sen. Bill Brady, R-Bloomington, was a “present” vote. […]
“In this case, I have an equity interest in a hotel in Danville, Illinois. And, when Danville was thrown into the bill, my ethics officer advised me that I should declare a conflict by voting present,” Brady said.
The Senate Sunday passed the infrastructure bill to double the state’s gas tax and increase vehicle registration fees the day after the House rushed the bill through in overtime. […]
State Rep. Blaine Wilhour, R-Beecher City, who voted against it, said the GOP votes provided cover to the Democrats in districts Republicans should be winning.
“And I just don’t really see anything substantial on the table there to put 20 votes on the table for a gas tax increase,” Wilhour said.
Nothing substantial, eh?
Rep. Wilhour’s Beecher City is in Effingham County, which is in IDOT District 7. District 7 received about $600 million in road and bridge projects in the capital bill. If you click here you can see the district’s projects. The district received about the same as District 2 (Rock Island, DeKalb, Kankakee).
District 8 (Metro East to Marion) received a couple of hundred million more than Wilhour’s District 7 (and Wilhour’s House district reaches into that IDOT district), and District 4 (Peoria) did slightly better than 7.
So, Wilhour’s sparsely populated IDOT district was basically tied for fourth out of 9, with District 1 receiving the most at $3.1 billion. But that’s Chicago and the suburbs, which has 65 percent of the state’s population.
All in all, I think he did pretty well. His region gets a bunch of state money and he didn’t vote to pay for it.
