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Today’s number: $350 million

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Illinois

* An extremely important piece of information is missing from this story…

The Illinois Department of Transportation released its annual five-year report Thursday, saying the department continues to fall behind on maintaining the state’s roads.

IDOT issued the report as part of an announced $8.4 billion, six-year construction program. The report says funding will likely remain flat for any future projects without some kind of capital bill.

“While this latest multiyear program will have a positive impact on many of our communities, it also underscores the urgency to find a long-term, sustainable solution for our infrastructure needs,” acting Illinois Transportation Secretary Randy Blankenhorn said in a prepared statement.

The report says 83 percent of the state’s highways and 93 percent of its bridges are in “acceptable condition” today. That number will drop to 62 percent for highways and 86 percent for bridges by 2021 at current funding levels. […]

The multiyear program IDOT announced includes $1.85 billion in projects for the fiscal year beginning in July.

* It’s not this, either, but we’re getting closer…

In addition to a budget deficit of as much as $6 billion in the coming year, several factors crimp road spending. A $31 billion capital-construction plan which buoyed road work ended last year. The state’s road fund collects money from vehicle registrations — stagnant for the last decade at about $1.3 billion annually — and a motor fuel tax which, with falling gas prices, dropped about $100 million in the past two years from a 2004 high of just under $600 million.

* It’s this…

What’s more, to erase a deficit in the current budget left when a temporary income-tax increase was allowed to roll back in January at incoming governor Rauner’s insistence, the [legislature] and Rauner agreed to take more than $350 million from accounts devoted to road-building [Emphasis added]

So, instead of $1.85 billion in spending next fiscal year, IDOT could’ve spent $2.2 billion - almost 20 percent more - if the Road Fund hadn’t been swept - not to mention the other $150 million swept from various state construction accounts.

posted by Rich Miller
Friday, May 15, 15 @ 11:06 am

Comments

Apparently, it is more important to cut government spending based on some right-wing agenda than it is to invest in safe roads. That seems reasonable, no?

Comment by Scamp640 Friday, May 15, 15 @ 11:11 am
And while roads and bridges deteriorate, we spend $$ on bike trails and native grass planting. Think we need to fund just infrastructure repair for the next 2 years.

Comment by Bogey Golfer Friday, May 15, 15 @ 11:13 am
Yes, we have a spending problem. There is not enough money to spend on roads and bridges.

Comment by Norseman Friday, May 15, 15 @ 11:18 am
Are there no other funds to be swept, or dead people to remove from the rolls? Well, doesn’t matter, once my RTWFL bill-that-hasnt-been-filed-yet is passed, 1.85 billion will be nore than enough. Problem solved. Next.

Comment by PublicServant Friday, May 15, 15 @ 11:18 am
Actions have consequences. Seems there are a lot of people that still don’t understand that or don’t want to.

they keep reminding us the process of thinking before doing isn’t SOP in state government.

Comment by Finally Out (and now very glad to be) Friday, May 15, 15 @ 11:19 am
Point well made. These funds had a clear, critically needed use for next year. Even worse, Rauner might be forced to try for more funds sweeps to make his budget for 2016.

Comment by walker Friday, May 15, 15 @ 11:25 am
Still not sure why Rauner still gets the sole hook on this. As though 1)the GA couldn’t have done what it wanted anyway and 2) the prior GA/Governor could have tried passing a budget that had enough money in it so funds didn’t get swept.

Comment by Shemp Friday, May 15, 15 @ 11:26 am
“Apparently, it is more important to cut government spending based on some right-wing agenda than it is to invest in safe roads. That seems reasonable, no?”

Do you know what would’ve prevented this? Passing a budget based on ACTUAL REVENUES in FY15.

Comment by TotesMcGoats Friday, May 15, 15 @ 11:27 am
That’ll be on a mailer..

Comment by Corporate Thug Friday, May 15, 15 @ 11:28 am
And if IDOT weren’t so buried in its own rules and political hires, they could probably get 10-20% more work done anyway. Just what I get from my IDOT acquaintances. No one on the inside wants to publicly tip the apple cart though.

Comment by Shemp Friday, May 15, 15 @ 11:28 am
===Still not sure why Rauner still gets the sole hook on this===

Did you read the post? The blame is shared.

I mean, you’re not even being victimized and yet you claim victimhood?

Slow down. Take a breath. And then and ONLY then, comment.

Comment by Rich Miller Friday, May 15, 15 @ 11:32 am
Deteriorating roads are another talking point — proof that Illinois infrastructure continues to crumble — so it would make the most political sense to let the roads deteriorate so that (a) campaign money can be raised and (b) that “reform” can continue to be pressed.

If stuff worked, then there’s no need for reform. And you can’t raise money on success.

Comment by Frenchie Mendoza Friday, May 15, 15 @ 11:35 am
I thought an old rule of thumb was it cost a million/mile to reconstruct a road.(expressways not included of course) If that’s close to being true that’s 350 miles of roads that won’t be reconstructed and several times more that won’t be repaved.

Comment by Tommydanger Friday, May 15, 15 @ 11:36 am
“And if IDOT weren’t so buried in its own rules…”

Many of the rules and policies that IDOT has to follow are to comply with state and Federal laws, and good engineering practices.

Sweeping the Road Fund and the resulting impact was foreseeable.

Comment by Huh? Friday, May 15, 15 @ 11:38 am
@Scamp640–At this point, more like version of Thomas Gradgrind (although admittedly more charming). But thanks for the Scrooge reference; it gives me hope for a late-in-the-game change of heart. …

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gradgrind

Comment by Crispy Friday, May 15, 15 @ 11:40 am
Boggey Golfer
Not sure why the park districts spends money on maintaining the waste of natural area that golf courses occupy. What’s your point? Funding for those type of projects are a different pot of money. Plus lots of people use bike trails and native plantings are a good thing, and are often times designed into the roadway as mitigation, storm water detention, pollinator habitat. Its sad Illinois is called the prairie state and more than 99% of Illinoisans have never seen a real prairie! Go play some golf!

Comment by BlameBruceRauner Friday, May 15, 15 @ 11:42 am
I have been banging the drum that sweeping road funds was a very bad idea. Talk about jobs….and job creation

Comment by BlameBruceRauner Friday, May 15, 15 @ 11:43 am
Thank goodness the city of Oregon got a $500000 grant for decorative street lighting from idot

Comment by foster brooks Friday, May 15, 15 @ 11:45 am
And the legislators are already taking credit for improvements that we don’t have the money for and are not going to happen.

Comment by John Parnell Friday, May 15, 15 @ 11:55 am
Governor Rauner only cares about:
- killing unions
- lowering wages
- lowering corporate taxes
- raising corporate profits
- lining his own pocket and those of his cronies

Governor Rauner does not care about:
- sick and infirm
- working families
- communities
- the common good

I wonder if the Governor has read Charles Dickens because he seems to be modeling himself after a certain Ebenezer Scrooge. In fact, I think he is Governor Scrooge.

Comment by Scamp640 Friday, May 15, 15 @ 12:10 pm
Adding $350 m diverted this year should not be simply applied in the suggested point made earlier that that next year’s annual portion could go from $1.8 b to $2.2 b in FY 16, but should more appropriately be applied to the full 6-year program that could have increased it from $8.3 b to $10.2 b ($1.7 billion more)~ since the $350 m could have been used to match 80% of federal funding for projects over the 6-year span. Without this $1.7 b, it is undeniably an impact to the bridge acceptability level of 86%, which is a dangerously low standard.

In short, the sins of the past proves IDOT needs capital funding now! They needed it even before the $350 m diversion. They really need a bold $5 billion bond program as well as a significant “pay as you go” component so that it can handle future demands (and avoid purchasing power losses) adequately without having to go back to the legislature for more revenues.

Identifying this acceptability data demonstrates IDOT’s forth right warning to us all. We cannot just kick the can down the road again. (Sorry for the pun.)

Comment by Anon Friday, May 15, 15 @ 12:21 pm
This just might be the one fund to get swept that folks in the state would be willing to fill back up.

Comment by A guy Friday, May 15, 15 @ 12:25 pm
“Go play some golf!”

Is the Mount Prospect Park District ever going to finish remodeling its golf course? The project to install new turf has been going on for a year and a half. Lots of lost revenue from the closing. The park board must have money to burn.

Comment by Under Further Review Friday, May 15, 15 @ 12:30 pm
Once again, Governor Rauner didn’t do what any competent governor would have done - use a capital bill to win friends and influence people. His concerns over losing business over our deficit or RTW laws look insincere when these same businesses consider infrastructure to be as important or more so, than either deficit or RTW.

What Rauner is showing potential businesses and investors is that he is too short sighted and politically motivate to just do his job. It is understandable that RTW is not going to happen overnight. Businesses recognize that the Illinois state budget will be about as messed up as any other state or federal budget. What they WONT accept however, is seeing a state that prefers playing politics over basic road maintenance.

Governor Rauner needs someone to tell him how to do his job on this issue. It shouldn’t even have an issue.

Comment by VanillaMan Friday, May 15, 15 @ 12:31 pm
As one who lost a tire to a pothole while driving to a Springfield meeting, I think citizens will spend more in car maintenance and repair than the State saves.

If IDOT started closing bridges that they could not certify as safe, they would quickly see their coffers filled.

Comment by Last Bull Moose Friday, May 15, 15 @ 12:35 pm
@ Crispy

I like your alternative Dickens reference. I hope that you are correct about the late in the game change of heart. Unfortunately, as Dickens writes, it may take a breakdown of some sort to get Governor Gradgrind to change his approach.

Comment by Scamp640 Friday, May 15, 15 @ 12:46 pm
Guns or butter?

- kudos to Econ 101

Comment by Keyser Soze Friday, May 15, 15 @ 12:54 pm
Gee, weren’t Madigan’s people claim the road fun had “excess funds” in it so that it could be swept to their pet projects in the budget making process?

Now’s a heck of a time for IDOT to bring this up. Where were they with this information when the sweep was being debated?

Comment by Arizona Bob Friday, May 15, 15 @ 12:56 pm
==- Arizona Bob - Friday, May 15, 15 @ 12:56 pm:==

In case you didn’t know, being an Arizona citizen and all, REPUBLICAN GOVERNOR BRUCE RAUNER runs IDOT. REPUBLICAN GOVERNOR BRUCE RAUNER negotiated the fund sweep. REPUBLICAN GOVERNOR BRUCE RAUNER wear the jacket as the CEO of the state.

Comment by Precinct Captain Friday, May 15, 15 @ 12:59 pm
Road work has a project life. Deferring $350 million won’t be fixed with $350 million next year. A resurfacing project will become a rebuilding project, at a much higher cost. This is how deferring maintenance makes the need grow exponentially. Penny wise pound foolish.

Comment by Sir Reel Friday, May 15, 15 @ 1:04 pm
Foster- The grant that Oregon got for ornamental street lights was most likely an ITEP enhancement grant from the FHWA. Other than the cost to administer the grant, there is no state money involved.

Comment by Huh? Friday, May 15, 15 @ 1:15 pm
PC, easy with those caps. The road fund sweep debacle is shared by Rauner, Madigan, Cullerton, Durkin and Radogno. The need for the fund was created by Quinn and the Democratic-controlled General Assembly. See, logic and facts don’t need capital letters.

Comment by phocion Friday, May 15, 15 @ 1:16 pm
150 was right. People may not like how that make the point but they are correct. Add to the Road Fund, don’t sweep it!

Comment by Roads Friday, May 15, 15 @ 1:19 pm
there is another problem with Road Fund financing — more vehicles are more fuel efficient, and more vehicles are running on batteries or natural gas. Taxing at the fuel pump is an absurd primary revenue base here. We need to rely less on gas pump taxes and more on licensee plates and driver’s license fees to maintain the roads. (Sorry, Jesse).

Comment by Capitol View Friday, May 15, 15 @ 1:24 pm
Sorry to break the news but the gas tax is going to go up to fund a capital bill.

Comment by BlameBruceRauner Friday, May 15, 15 @ 1:36 pm
Taxing at the fuel pump is an absurd primary revenue base here.

Comment by Six Degrees of Separation Friday, May 15, 15 @ 1:39 pm
For the vast majority of IDOT projects, the FHWA pays 80% of the construction cost. So that $350 million could have leveraged another $1.4 billion from the Feds. $1.75 billion is nearly an annual program for IDOT.

Comment by Huh? Friday, May 15, 15 @ 1:39 pm
^ (Continued) Long term, yes. Short term, Iowa just raised theirs 10c a gallon and they are doing a heck of a lot with it. Easier to do with our current fuel prices well under $3/gallon in most parts of the state.

Comment by Six Degrees of Separation Friday, May 15, 15 @ 1:41 pm
6 D Sep. Precisely. It’s the least painful revenue route available.

Comment by A guy Friday, May 15, 15 @ 1:45 pm
BBR is right. Gas taxes will have to go up to make up for the structural problem that the gas tax model itself has created. Fuel efficiencies and alternate fuels make this ultimately a losing proposition. Vehicle Miles Traveled as a model is the long-term solution, user fee based, and ultimately the most fair option to fund our deteriorating roads and bridges.

Comment by phocion Friday, May 15, 15 @ 1:46 pm
==- phocion - Friday, May 15, 15 @ 1:16 pm:==

Phocion, logic and facts must need captial letters because they are not present in your comment.

FACT: Republican governor-elect Bruce Rauner said the state did not a continuance of the tax increase.

FACT: The severe cut in state revenue led to the need for budget adjustments because of the “incomplete” budget from PQ and Dems.

FACT: Republican Governor Bruce Rauner swept $1.3 billion from special funds rather than make $1.6 billion in budget cuts.

If the sweeps are so bad, why did Governor Bruce Rauner negotiate them and sign them into law? Why didn’t he hold firm against budget gimmicks as he claimed he would do in his campaign? Is he weak? Is not intelligent? Is he a liar?

Comment by Precinct Captain Friday, May 15, 15 @ 1:51 pm
Oh, Precinct Captain. Where to begin?
Phocion, logic and facts must need captial letters because they are not present in your comment.

FACT: Republican governor-elect Bruce Rauner said the state did not a continuance of the tax increase.
First, check your typos. Second, drop the Democrat’s party line. So, in your alternate reality, if Bruce Rauner says to the General Assembly to do something or not to do something, that’s good enough? Please. The Democrats had the chance to extend the tax increase and they didn’t. Pinning it on a guy who wasn’t even Governor is pathetic party line pandering.

FACT: The severe cut in state revenue led to the need for budget adjustments because of the “incomplete” budget from PQ and Dems.
You and I actually agree on that.

FACT: Republican Governor Bruce Rauner swept $1.3 billion from special funds rather than make $1.6 billion in budget cuts.
Wrong: The sweeps were part of legislation that was passed by the General Assembly and signed by Governor Rauner. Sorry, can’t even give you points for creativity there. Governors don’t enact legislation. Feel free to check that out on the internets.

If the sweeps are so bad, why did Governor Bruce Rauner negotiate them and sign them into law? Why didn’t he hold firm against budget gimmicks as he claimed he would do in his campaign? Is he weak? Is not intelligent? Is he a liar?
All good points, except getting to calling someone a liar. For instance, I could call you ignorant and a partisan hack from a party that has mishandled the state so badly that we are in the mess we are in now, but I choose not to do so.

Comment by phocion Friday, May 15, 15 @ 2:00 pm
The price of gas doesn’t effect MFT, gas is taxed on a per gallon basis and the tax is collected by the state from distributors who then include it in the price. Higher mpg vehicles are resulting in les fuel sold and lower MFT collected.

Comment by anon. Friday, May 15, 15 @ 2:35 pm
The very people who are ripping Rauner are likely the same folks who say, “Give Obama more time, he’ll get some things done.”

Comment by anon Friday, May 15, 15 @ 2:47 pm
The very people who are ripping Rauner are likely the same folks who say, “Give Obama more time, he’ll get some things done.”

Nope. Within a matter of months, I saw both men as incompetent frauds, but I did hold out hope until then.

Comment by VanillaMan Friday, May 15, 15 @ 2:57 pm
Using the Road Fund for things other than roads certainly isn’t a new practice. The Auditor General issued a report about that around 2013. http://www.sj-r.com/x1338685220/Audit-Less-than-half-of-state-Road-Fund-spent-on-roads

It seems to me that the repeated raiding of the fund over time has contributed to the problem.

Comment by Wondering Woman Friday, May 15, 15 @ 3:15 pm
anon-2;47
Please keep the Fed issues out of the discussion unless relevant.
Please voice your hatred for the President somewhere else. You have been scolded a bunch of time already

Comment by BlameBruceRauner Friday, May 15, 15 @ 3:29 pm
==- VanillaMan - Friday, May 15, 15 @ 2:57 pm:==

You were blasting Obama before he was ever inaugurated.

Comment by Precinct Captain Friday, May 15, 15 @ 4:04 pm
=== Precinct Captain - Friday, May 15, 15 @ 4:04 pm:

==- VanillaMan - Friday, May 15, 15 @ 2:57 pm:==

You were blasting Obama before he was ever inaugurated.===

Mr. Obama applied the same work ethic to the IL Senate and the US Senate that he applies now.

Almost done for the week as Hall Monitor, come back fresh next week with new material. You’re boring people.

Comment by A guy Friday, May 15, 15 @ 4:32 pm
Gee, Guy, when you wrote “work ethic” in regards to “Mr. Obama,” all the dogs in my neighborhood started barking.

Comment by Wordslinger Saturday, May 16, 15 @ 9:38 am