Capitol Fax.com - Your Illinois News Radar

The hollowing out of state government

Posted in:

Illinois

* Les Winkeler on IDNR…

Case in point, over the past decade or so the state has lost out on piles of grant money for one of two reasons. First, cash was in short supply, so matching funds for projects weren’t always available. Second, staff cuts were so deep there was no one to write the grant proposals. […]

Granted, the agency is no longer on life support as it was several years ago, but staffing levels are unacceptable. Some site superintendents are managing 8-12 sites – that serves no one well. Some state parks are without a single full-time employee.

posted by Rich Miller
Tuesday, Nov 27, 18 @ 10:32 am

Comments

–Some state parks are without a single full-time employee.–

Just irresponsible neglect, a willful failure of basic stewardship.

That’s what happens when the chief executive has delusions of “transforming the economy” and “creating tens of thousands of jobs.” He fails to do the actual job.

Comment by wordslinger Tuesday, Nov 27, 18 @ 10:43 am
I am not looking forward to the next administration shedding light on all the mis and malfeasance committed by the current administration over the last 4 years. We’ve only seen the tip of the iceberg.

Comment by Henry Francis Tuesday, Nov 27, 18 @ 10:44 am
Hey Wordslinger….

Didn’t the Democrat majority House and Senate APPROVE the budget which created this “irresponsible neglect”?

Comment by Fuel For the Fire Tuesday, Nov 27, 18 @ 10:47 am
===Didn’t the Democrat majority House and Senate APPROVE the budget which created this “irresponsible neglect”?===

Narrator: Bruce Rauner signed it.

Comment by Oswego Willy Tuesday, Nov 27, 18 @ 10:53 am
=Didn’t the Democrat majority House and Senate APPROVE the budget which created this “irresponsible neglect”?=

The governor, per Illinois constitution, was supposed to propose a balanced budget. He never did propose a balanced budget and he proposed or made cuts to a lot of areas he claimed to support like Ag and IDNR. Which always baffled me. He claimed Ag was our back bone (it is in many ways) and claimed to be an avid outdoorsman but then reduced spending on those areas.

I guess he showed them how much he loved them by how badly he hurt them?

Comment by JS Mill Tuesday, Nov 27, 18 @ 10:54 am
I know Les and he has captured the essence of a statewide malaise that has fallen over ALL the state sites. No staff to perform the basics in many locations and NO funds to perform even routine maintenance to prevent further erosion of what Illinois citizens use to enjoy.

The state is the steward for our natural resources, and for the most part the site staff, even though stretched to almost unbearable extremes at times tending to multiple locations, have gone above and beyond what should be expected of them. I also know a number of site staff and they are making due with little to nothing. Yes, there are a few “appointees” that get a free ride (the state GA member’s son down by St. Louis a few years ago comes to mind) but the vast majority of these individuals not only care for their sites (and more) that they create public-private ventures where possible to get things done, many times after their workday is suppose to be over and out of their own pockets.

I encourage these partnerships BUT they all need additional support or we will see sites being closed due to dilapidated conditions. Something Aldo Leopold would roll over in his grave about…

Please continue the fine work Les and I hope others really to the cause.

Comment by LINK Tuesday, Nov 27, 18 @ 10:54 am
Oswego:

Wouldn’t that make them BOTH at fault?

Comment by Fuel For the Fire Tuesday, Nov 27, 18 @ 10:57 am
Hey Fuel, are you under the impression that the governor of Illinois doesn’t have the power to hire, re-organize or reassign executive branch personnel?

Did you think that the GA signed off specifically on those Munger crew and IPI patronage jobs?

I guess you believed that whole “not in charge” gag.

Comment by wordslinger Tuesday, Nov 27, 18 @ 10:57 am
Governors own.

They always do.

Can’t claim a veto is a governor doing their job and ignore the opposite, the signature.

Rauner owns his signed budgets… as every governor before him.

Comment by Oswego Willy Tuesday, Nov 27, 18 @ 10:58 am
Was under the impression the IDNR issues started before Rauner, but I suspect he is going to get blamed for everything. Like Quinn and Rod didn’t exist.

If they do this transition thing for INDR (not a bad idea), I would suggest it have more outsiders than former or current officials. As someone pointed out in Crain’s about the Amazon thing, the committees in Illinois and Chicago seem to have the same folks on them all the time. Might be a good time to expand the range a bit.

Comment by OneMan Tuesday, Nov 27, 18 @ 10:59 am
State parks are not equally valuable, nor do the retain their values. There is a procedure to handle this. Parks can be bought, and they can be decommissioned.

It makes no sense economically to serve all parks equally, because of their fluctuating values.

Blagojevich tussled with this problem, Quinn focused on other issues, and Rauner didn’t govern. It’s been almost twenty years since.

So, stop fingerpointing and get to work Democrats.
Its all you now.
Sparkle-time.

Comment by VanillaMan Tuesday, Nov 27, 18 @ 11:03 am
Les did detail how GovJunk also scalped the Conservation Police force.
Grants were not sought because federal grants are something the Koch Brothers do not support.
The exception being the land scam he unveiled at Starved Rock just before his Exit Interview Tour concluded.
Perhaps a review of that item and the U of I land scam (aka Discovery Partners Zone) can be examined. Or we just wait for the G?

Comment by Annonin' Tuesday, Nov 27, 18 @ 11:03 am
=Was under the impression the IDNR issues started before Rauner, but I suspect he is going to get blamed for everything. Like Quinn and Rod didn’t exist.=
Didn’t Rauner promise to divert from the Quinn and Blago neglect in order to get elected in 2014? Amirite?

Comment by Deadbeat Conservative Tuesday, Nov 27, 18 @ 11:04 am
===but I suspect he is going to get blamed for everything.===

… like two years without any state budget, held hostage by Rauner and Drury, Franks, and Dunkin… and a third full veto that needed to be overriden (that Rauner wanted to happen), that kind of full blame?

An entire GA was sworn in, sat, and went Sine Die without a state budget being in place.

Bruce Rauner did that.

This hollowing out has been exacerbated by Rauner.

Comment by Oswego Willy Tuesday, Nov 27, 18 @ 11:06 am
Other than at the local level, IDNR hasn’t had public input in a long time. Restarting the Conservation Congress might be a place to start.

Comment by Way Way Down Here Tuesday, Nov 27, 18 @ 11:12 am
“The thing a lot of people don’t realize, we still haven’t recovered from the cutbacks of 1983,” he said. “Then we had cutbacks in 1991 or 1992. IDNR has never recovered from that. We’re not even at maintenance levels.

“We don’t have clerical people. We don’t have enough technicians, people out on the line during forestry and wildlife work. They’re gone. It’s a real sad state of affairs. It shows the political system in Illinois doesn’t take natural resources or conservation seriously.”

Andy West, IDNR site superintendent at Trail of Tears State Forest, 2004

Comment by City Zen Tuesday, Nov 27, 18 @ 11:17 am
== This hollowing out has been exacerbated by Rauner. ==

But it didn’t start with him. I seem to recall IDNR being neglective by Rod

It also happened in part with him because the state was broke, part of the reason the state was broke is that the tax increase was made temporary so they could try and hang it on the next governor (Rauner).

So as much as everyone loves to hate Rauner and blame him for everything, there is in fact blame to go around and all of our problems didn’t start 4 years ago.

Like when Rod wanted to cut 40% from IDNR 10 years ago…

https://htsblog.blogspot.com/2008/02/so-we-had-budget-presentation-today.html

or this

https://htsblog.blogspot.com/2004/12/some-more-stuff-on-dismantling-of-idnr.html

or this

http://capitolfax.blogspot.com/2004/12/patterson-inserts-zinger.html

So yeah, Rod owns part of this problem too…

Comment by OneMan Tuesday, Nov 27, 18 @ 11:26 am
I had a friend who wrote a grant application and landed the State a multi-million dollar multi-year grant of federal antifraud money. This was a lot of extra work for him and after three years of no pay raise by Blago’s corrupt crew, he moved his family to Baltimore.

Comment by Al Tuesday, Nov 27, 18 @ 11:28 am
Don’t forget that DNR actually expanded its charge as it obtained all of the state’s historic sites that used to be under the Historic Preservation Agency (which Rauner eliminated). This isn’t just about state parks, it’s also about our deteriorating state historic sites. Heckuva job, Raunie. /s

Comment by Steve Rogers Tuesday, Nov 27, 18 @ 11:38 am
===But it didn’t start with him.===

(Sigh)

I wrote;

“This hollowing out has been exacerbated by Rauner.”

I don’t recall saying it began with Rauner.

Further… when a state goes 2 years, an entire GA without a budget… that’s far more damaging than any cuts.

Rauner also claimed he wanted better.

Capitol Fax, August 19, 2014…

===Transcript provided by the Rauner campaign…

ANCHOR: Republican candidate for governor Bruce Rauner is on the campaign trail – today in Marion hoping to connect with the outdoorsmen in the region. He introduced his Conservationists for Rauner Coalition for those who, like himself, enjoy the great outdoors. He says as governor he would work to revamp the Illinois Department of Natural Resources.

RAUNER: Our parks are not being taken care of, our national forests are deteriorating, our waterways, we need to enhance our natural resources so families can enjoy them. With hiking and camping and hunting and fishing and riding.

ANCHOR: Rauner says that working to better the department would lead to job creation and improve local national forests and tourist attractions.

Um, national forests? The state doesn’t have enough money to take care of what it has, and he wants to restore national forests? Does he even listen to himself?

* From WSIL TV…

Rauner was very vocal about protecting and maintaining the natural resources in Southern Illinois. He says tourist destinations like state parks and wildlife areas can be utilized to create more jobs and improve the economy.
“The outdoors can generate a lot of economic activity,” said Rauner.

He claims recent state budget cuts have hurt promotion of the state’s natural resources. If elected, he promises to team up with state conservationists to preserve parks and wildlife areas in hopes of boosting the state’s economy.
“Our gas stations can get more gas sold to tourists and travelers,” explained Rauner. “It can help our hotels and restaurants.”===

… and yet… it was Rauner forcing Illinois to go without a budget.

“I’m frustrated too but taking steps to reform Illinois is more important than a short term budget stalemate.”

Exacerbating.

===So as much as everyone loves to hate Rauner and blame him for everything, there is in fact blame to go around and all of our problems didn’t start 4 years ago.===

Tell that to closed social services, and hollowed out agencies starved of funding.

===part of the reason the state was broke is that the tax increase was made temporary so they could try and hang it on the next governor (Rauner).===

Yeah, um, no.

As you may recall, Rauner thanked the GA for letting it expire.

Why? Well, to hurt the state more, of course… then trade him (Rauner) signing a tax increase and Rauner gets labor destroyed.

So there’s that too.

Anything else?

Comment by Oswego Willy Tuesday, Nov 27, 18 @ 11:41 am
I think it’s a given that it didn’t start with the current Governor. I think it’s also a given that 2+ years without a signed budget took what was a crumbling of the state and turned it into a disintegration.

Different Governors bear different levels of culpability based on their actions during their tenure. There is no way that any previous Governor in the past 17 years bears deserves more credit that the current Governor for the state of the State. You can argue that one may deserve as much credit (and that is worth discussion), but none deserve more.

Comment by Name Withheld Tuesday, Nov 27, 18 @ 11:41 am
A database you might want to check from time to time is EcoCAT -

https://www.dnr.illinois.gov/programs/EcoCAT/Pages/default.aspx

For many areas it has been years if not decades since a flora and/or fauna survey has been done to determine Threatened and Endangered species. In many areas there are critters making a great comeback, but there simply are not enough IDNR staffers to be able to document them. The public can help with this by being involved in reviewing reviews and reporting discrepancies. This is becoming especially important in wind turbine applications that may be sited near environmentally sensitive areas.

Comment by Anon221 Tuesday, Nov 27, 18 @ 11:48 am
–Blagojevich tussled with this problem, –

Huh? How so?

All I recall was Blago bragging that he’d never been to a state park while he slashed IDNR.

Comment by wordslinger Tuesday, Nov 27, 18 @ 11:54 am
With Ag being our major industry maybe it’s time to roll DNR under the Department of Agriculture.

Comment by flea Tuesday, Nov 27, 18 @ 11:59 am
== With Ag being our major industry maybe it’s time to roll DNR under the Department of Agriculture. ==

No. DNR & Ag have conflicting missions at times. Not a good fit.

Comment by Lt Guv Tuesday, Nov 27, 18 @ 12:03 pm
The consequences of this hollowing out are not just some grass not getting mowed or picnic tables not getting painted. Many of Illinois’ most treasured nature preserves, parks, and natural areas have become heavily infested with invasive plant species including bush honeysuckle. The remaining dedicated crews of biologists and site staff are doing all they can with their limited resources, but they are operating in triage mode. It will take decades and an army of laborers to remedy many of these dire situations if they are not already degraded beyond the point of no return. Such is the report card on the natural stewardship by the state’s political leadership in its bicentennial year = FAIL.

Comment by Vole Tuesday, Nov 27, 18 @ 12:11 pm
In my division we had 12 people when Rauner came in. We now have 4 and constantly have to tell people we can’t help them now.

Comment by The Dude Tuesday, Nov 27, 18 @ 12:22 pm
Let’s see, Illinois income tax was a 2.5% in 1990.

It’s now at 4.95%, yet State agencies don’t have enough funding?

Where did that nearly doubling of state income taxes go?

Comment by Fuel For the Fire Tuesday, Nov 27, 18 @ 12:25 pm
The state museum is also under dnr. Rauner shut that down for no reason. Damage that will not be fixed and a reputation for research and scholarship that will bot be restored any time soon. Hopefully, the governor-elect has pride in Illinois and sets policies and budgets that exemplify that pride.

Comment by My New Handle Tuesday, Nov 27, 18 @ 12:42 pm
== Where did that nearly doubling of state income taxes go? ==

You’ve heard of the billions in backlogs I trust.

Comment by Lt Guv Tuesday, Nov 27, 18 @ 12:46 pm
=Where did that nearly doubling of state income taxes go?= probably to pay 1990’s pension debt,

Comment by guest Tuesday, Nov 27, 18 @ 12:47 pm
= No. DNR & Ag have conflicting missions at times. Not a good fit. =

A few states (e.g., New York, Connecticut and Tennessee) have combined their natural resource and environmental protection agencies. I don’t know if this is a good idea, but it might be an option for the Pritzker administration to explore. There may be opportunities to leverage resources for building space, utilities, administrative support, customer services, etc.

Comment by Going nuclear Tuesday, Nov 27, 18 @ 1:12 pm
2 things
Anybody remember Rauner saying just because they appropriate it doesn’t mean he has to spend it.

Also remember each agency(most of which are controlled by Rauner) determines it’s own needs as far as funding and personnel. These numbers are submitted for the budgeting process. Thus Rauner is responsible because he is responsible for the senior staff at each agency.

Bottom line is that Rauner totally hollowed out whole agencies.
Look at DCEO. Whole departments are gone.
The function of those departments have mandatory statutory obligations, that just aren’t being done now.

Comment by Honeybear Tuesday, Nov 27, 18 @ 1:17 pm
==Where did that nearly doubling of state income taxes go?==

You’re seriously comparing an income tax rate in 1990 and the costs it covered to the income tax rate in 2018 and the costs it can cover? Either your daft and know that what you are arguing is ridiculous or you simply don’t understand that costs are static for 30 years. Either way is just sad.

Comment by Demoralized Tuesday, Nov 27, 18 @ 1:29 pm
sorry “aren’t static”

Comment by Anonymous Tuesday, Nov 27, 18 @ 1:29 pm
Fuel for the fire-
ever heard of no bid IT contracts?
ever heard of patronage hires, (Hoffman, Munger, etc)
But just because individuals and companies are assessed doesn’t mean they will pay that.
Look at
EDGE grants
Enterprise Zones
TIF’s
So many ways of corporate welfare to get out of paying taxes.

Comment by Honeybear Tuesday, Nov 27, 18 @ 1:36 pm
Going nuclear. . . that would be a better fit. Worthy of some thought.

Comment by Lt Guv Tuesday, Nov 27, 18 @ 1:48 pm
In 2104 Illinois near lowest number of employees per capita. Now probably lowest.

http://www.governing.com/gov-data/public-workforce-salaries/states-most-government-workers-public-employees-by-job-type.html

Comment by lost in the weeds Tuesday, Nov 27, 18 @ 1:57 pm
Ah, so many tax and spenders here today.

It’s not hard people. Illinois has doubled the effective income tax rate for its citizens since 1990. Our population is stagnant, so there hasn’t been a large influx of new people needing state services. Indiana has an income tax rate of 3.3%, yet has a balanced budget.

And before you start attacking my intelligence again, I’m well aware that government costs don’t remain static, however, the income tax is percentage based which should cover a good portion of any inflation (which has been negligible for years BTW).

Again, where did all the money go? Is it all going to cover pensions that weren’t properly funded for years?

Comment by Fuel For the Fire Tuesday, Nov 27, 18 @ 2:14 pm
Lost in the weeds. I don’t know where we are with the numbers. I used to pound that smallest state workforce per capita fact like crazy. But Rauners folks changed the accountability website so you can’t see it year against year. It used to be that you could add it up by hand. I did it once and reported it here on the blog but there’s no finding it. Rauner will never reveal how many we’ve lost.

Comment by Honeybear Tuesday, Nov 27, 18 @ 2:19 pm
===Ah, so many tax and spenders here today.===

And…

===Is it all going to cover pensions that weren’t properly funded for years?===

Use the google, get back to all of us. Then you’ll know.

The mouth breathing “taxpayer” schtick is… tiring.

Comment by Oswego Willy Tuesday, Nov 27, 18 @ 2:22 pm
“tax and spend” and “unfunded pensions” aren’t mutually exclusive.

Use the google and look it up.

Comment by Fuel For the Fire Tuesday, Nov 27, 18 @ 3:07 pm
- Fuel For the Fire -

I’m confused I guess at your whole point.

Use your words, try something other than a drive by and show some depth to your thought.

Thanks.

Comment by Oswego Willy Tuesday, Nov 27, 18 @ 3:14 pm
All my own words, and save the ad hominem “mouth breather” comments. Thanks.

Comment by Fuel For the Fire Tuesday, Nov 27, 18 @ 3:18 pm
===Ah, so many tax and spenders here today.===

And…

===Is it all going to cover pensions that weren’t properly funded for years?===

All your own words, you’re not saying much, lol

Use the google on this site, figure out where “all the money went” with the “tax and spenders”.

Give a full report.

Comment by Oswego Willy Tuesday, Nov 27, 18 @ 3:23 pm
Don’t have exact numbers, but Medicaid and pensions have taken a lot of cash. Back when Reagan was president, U. S. Senators were worried about medical costs crowding out state budgets.

Comment by Last Bull Moose Tuesday, Nov 27, 18 @ 3:50 pm
There’s less safety and health inspectors. About a 400% decrease

Comment by The Dude Tuesday, Nov 27, 18 @ 3:51 pm
– Indiana has an income tax rate of 3.3%, yet has a balanced budget.–

What’s the county income tax rate where you live in Illinois? All Indiana counties levy an additional income tax, with the high at 3.38%.

Comment by wordslinger Tuesday, Nov 27, 18 @ 5:22 pm
“Indiana has an income tax rate of 3.3%, yet has a balanced budget.”

So what? Minnesota has a budget surplus and much higher median incomes, as well as respect for workers and full union rights. In this last election Illinoisans strongly rejected Raunerism and right wing fiscal and economic ideology.

Comment by Grandson of Man Tuesday, Nov 27, 18 @ 6:54 pm
====Like Quinn and Rod didn’t exist

Rod was particularly awful on DNR issues. I believe he thought a lot of employees were Republican patronage so why not cut them.

Rod wasn’t very smart as we all know.

Comment by Archpundit Tuesday, Nov 27, 18 @ 8:27 pm
==So what? Minnesota has a budget surplus and much higher median incomes, as well as respect for workers and full union rights. In this last election Illinoisans strongly rejected Raunerism and right wing fiscal and economic ideology.==

Minnesota also has a history of high quality public services, the common good being valued over political gamesmanship, and a legacy of little corruption. Minnesotans get value for their investment in the public good. Illinoisans get a cancerous political culture that fights against democratic reforms and anything that would diminish the power and influence of party leaders.

Comment by Anonymous Tuesday, Nov 27, 18 @ 10:07 pm
==Minnesota has a budget surplus and much higher median incomes==

Minnesota also spends less per pupil on education, taxes retirement income, and has a less diverse population.

==Minnesotans get value for their investment in the public good.==

Yes. No one is paying a Minnesota price for an Illinois product.

Comment by City Zen Tuesday, Nov 27, 18 @ 10:23 pm
–Minnesota also spends less per pupil on education, taxes retirement income, and has a less diverse population.–

Do you want to expand on the benefits of a “less diverse population?”

Just spit it out. You know you want to.

Comment by wordslinger Tuesday, Nov 27, 18 @ 10:29 pm
“Illinoisans get a cancerous political culture that fights against democratic reforms and anything that would diminish the power and influence of party leaders.”

Madigan, Cullerton and Democrats and just got much stronger. Raunerism/IPI, the slurring and demonization of opponents, failed massively. Who else will step forward and fill the void of Raunerism? Please do, we need to keep winning elections.

Comment by Grandson of Man Wednesday, Nov 28, 18 @ 7:48 am
==Do you want to expand on the benefits of a “less diverse population?”==

There are benefits to being less diverse? I didn’t think there were. But there are plenty of folks here that think Minnesota is the tops, so ask them about your perceived benefits. You know you want to.

Comment by City Zen Wednesday, Nov 28, 18 @ 9:10 am
There are many out there that say that the DNR is not an important enough agency to warrant a transition team and that there are social issues that need to take precedence. Yes, there are other hot topic issues that the state is dealing with, however how long will the DNR be put on the back burner before enough is enough? We feel that a transition team for the DNR would be a good idea. The agency needs new blood, new ideas, a different approach.

Comment by Capitol Outdoors Wednesday, Nov 28, 18 @ 9:55 am
Since my words have generated this discussion, I wanted to clarify a few things. First, regarding site supers tending up to 12 sites. I should have made it clearer that no one I know has 12 state parks or fish and wildlife areas. Part of those 12 sites are satellite areas or historical sites. Second, I thought the column made clear that the DNR committee being proposed would be devoid of politics. Third, I have been equally critical of Republican and Democratic governors when it comes to the dismantling of IDNR. No where in this column was it suggested that the current state of the agency is Bruce Rauner’s fault. The downward spiral began under George Ryan and has continued.

Comment by Les Winkeler Wednesday, Nov 28, 18 @ 10:05 am
==Do you want to expand on the benefits of a “less diverse population?”==

There are benefits to being less diverse?–

Read your own post. You list it as one of the reasons Minnesota has a budget surplus.

How so?

Comment by wordslinger Wednesday, Nov 28, 18 @ 10:40 am