Peoria Standard

State Sen. Sally Turner (R-Beason) confirmed funding shortage concerns of the Illinois Department of Natural Resources (IDNR) with agency Chief of Staff Kristin DiCenso.

DiCenso appeared before the Illinois Senate Tourism and Hospitality Committee to provide information on her department’s plight, including workforce and budget challenges.

“One thing I have noticed personally, site superintendents do everything themselves — gardening, mowing their own grass, everything. And they use their personal money for things,” Turner said. “Is the problem the lack of funding?”

DiCenso responded that they have committed staff and confirmed that what the senator was “describing is what we deal with every day.”

She also told the committee that while “people think the parks are only busy during the summer, they’re busy year-round” and is grateful for people raising money to help the agency.

DiCenso pleaded for increased state funding to help IDNR address its staffing shortage and enhance its service. Approximately $40.3 million is allocated for IDNR for the upcoming fiscal year which is the same as the year prior.