Kankakee Times

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 Kankakee County include $3.75 million to Kankakee Community College for infrastructure improvements; $300,000 to the Village of Hopkins Park for general infrastructure; $155,000 to the Village of Aroma Park for costs associated with roadway and maintenance repairs; and $150,000 to the Kankakee County Sheriff's Department for all costs associated with upgrades in communication and safety equipment.

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 and Ravenswood avenues in Chicago; and $3 million to the Chicago Park District for the construction of a sports recreation facility in Morgan Park.

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What projects in Kankakee 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	Kankakee Community College	Kankakee	Kankakee	$3,750,000	The sum of $3,750,000, 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 Kankakee Community College for costs associated with infrastructure improvements.
Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity	Village of Hopkins Park	Hopkins Park	Kankakee	$300,000	The sum of $300,000, 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 Hopkins Park for general infrastructure.
Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity	Village of Aroma Park	Aroma Park	Kankakee	$155,000	The sum of $155,000, 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 Aroma Park for costs associated with roadway and maintenance repairs.
Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity	Kankakee County Sheriff’s Department	Kankakee	Kankakee	$150,000	The sum of $150,000, 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 Kankakee County Sheriff’s Department for all costs associated with upgrades in communication and safety equipment.
Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity	Village of Aroma Park	Aroma Park	Kankakee	$100,000	The sum of $100,000, 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 Aroma Park for general infrastructure.
Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity	Pembroke Township	Pembroke Township	Kankakee	$100,000	The sum of $100,000, 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 Pembroke Township for general infrastructure.
Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity	County of Kankakee		Kankakee	$100,000	The sum of $100,000, 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 County of Kankakee for general infrastructure.
Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity	Village of Bradley	Bradley	Kankakee	$75,000	The sum of $75,000, 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 Bradley for costs associated with the construction of a new fire station.
Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity	Village of Bonfield	Bonfield	Kankakee	$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 Village of Bonfield for general infrastructure.
Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity	Township of Essex	Essex Township	Kankakee	$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 Township of Essex for general infrastructure improvements.
Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity	City of Momence	Momence	Kankakee	$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 City of Momence for costs associated with the reconstruction of the water bank and sidewalk.
Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity	Village of Reddick	Reddick	Kankakee	$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 Village of Reddick for general infrastructure.
Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity	Village of St. Anne	St. Anne	Kankakee	$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 Village of St. Anne for general infrastructure.
Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity	Village of Sun River Terrace	Sun River Terrace	Kankakee	$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 Village of Sun River Terrace for general infrastructure.
Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity	Village of Limestone	Limestone	Kankakee	$30,900	The sum of $30,900, 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 Limestone for general infrastructure.
Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity	Limestone Township	Limestone Township	Kankakee	$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 Limestone Township for general infrastructure improvements.
Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity	Village of Manteno	Manteno	Kankakee	$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 Manteno for infrastructure improvements.
Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity	Village of St. Anne	St. Anne	Kankakee	$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 Village of St. Anne for general infrastructure.