Peoria Standard

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 Peoria County include $463,000 to Southside Office of Concern for infrastructure improvements; and $200,000 to the Methodist Medical Center for all costs associated with construction and capital improvement projects.

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.

----

What projects in Peoria 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	Southside Office of Concern	Peoria	Peoria	$463,000	The sum of $463,000, 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 Southside Office of Concern for infrastructure improvements.
Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity	Methodist Medical Center	Peoria	Peoria	$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 the Methodist Medical Center of Illinois for all costs associated with construction and capital improvement projects.
Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity	Boys and Girls Club of Greater Peoria, Inc	Peoria	Peoria	$73,000	The sum of $73,000, 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 Boys and Girls Club of Greater Peoria, Inc. for all costs associated with facility renovation at the 2703 Grinnell St. location.
Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity	NAACP Peoria Branch	Peoria	Peoria	$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 NAACP Peoria Branch for general infrastructure.
Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity	County of Peoria		Peoria	$42,836	The sum of $42,836, 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 County of Peoria for all costs associated with capital and infrastructure improvements.
Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity	Boys and Girls Club of Greater Peoria, Inc	Peoria	Peoria	$39,000	The sum of $39,000, 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 Boys and Girls Club of Greater Peoria, Inc. for general infrastructure improvements at the 806 E. Kansas location.
Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity	Village of Elmwood	Elmwood	Peoria	$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 Elmwood for general infrastructure improvements.
Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity	Easter Seals of Peoria	Peoria	Peoria	$18,000	The sum of $18,000, or so much thereof a may be necessary, is appropriated from the Build Illinois Bond Fund to the Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity for a grant to Easter Seals of Peoria for general infrastructure improvements.
Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity	Susan G. Komen Memorial Affiliate in Peoria	Peoria	Peoria	$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 the Susan G. Komen Memorial Affiliate in Peoria, Illinois for infrastructure improvements to the mobile mammogram van.
Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity	Neighborhood Alliance of Peoria	Peoria	Peoria	$2	The sum of $2, 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 Neighborhood Alliance of Peoria for general infrastructure improvements.
Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity	Friendship House of Christian Service	Peoria	Peoria	$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 Friendship House of Christian Service for costs associated with renovations to the facility.