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Budget may limit county funding
Plans for several state highway projects may be held up by new budget
Jordan Crook/City Reporter
Issue date: 3/3/08 Section: News
For the 2009 fiscal year Illinois state budget Gov. Rod Blagojevich will allocate more than $14 billion for road and bridge repair across the state.
Yet, this money may not be used to adequately help fund Coles County road projects already that are being constructed.
Coles County Engineer Rick Johnson said three county road projects may not receive the state funding they require as a result of the new budget.
"If we don't get a capital bill in place, there might not be enough state funding for the projects," he said.
The projects include the white topping of the concrete overlay for the Coles County station on Dole Road and the extension of the Exit 192 interchange on I-57.
The extension will connect the interchange, which leads directly into the industrial district of Mattoon, via County Road 1000 North to Charleston.
These projects are expected to cost between $18 to $20 million.
The construction of the original exit 192 interchange on I-57 cost $20 million and was completed in January.
Johnson said county and local funds will be used to pay for roughly half of the project costs. He said these funds come from tax levies like the motor fuel tax, a tax area motorists pay in order to drive on highways.
Johnson said he is hopeful that an adequate highway funds bill will eventually be passed by the state legislature that will provide Coles County with enough funds to fully pay for these projects in concert with local funding.
While Charleston is not directly involved with these projects, it could be somewhat affected by the new state budget.
Mayor John Inyart said he thinks the interstate project funding for the interchange project will have the greatest impact on Charleston.
However, Charleston City Manger Scott Smith believes the budget may cut into some of the plans the city has already laid out.
"I've been deeply concerned about the various projects that we have going (or have planned) that would depend on state support and funding," he said.
Smith said state funding that would be used for local projects might not be provided by the new budget and would force these projects to be put on hold.
"Without a capital plan and the funding to support it, we're going to be forced
to put some projects on the back burner for a while," he said.
Jordan Crook can be reached at 581-7495 or at jscrook@eiu.edu.
Yet, this money may not be used to adequately help fund Coles County road projects already that are being constructed.
Coles County Engineer Rick Johnson said three county road projects may not receive the state funding they require as a result of the new budget.
"If we don't get a capital bill in place, there might not be enough state funding for the projects," he said.
The projects include the white topping of the concrete overlay for the Coles County station on Dole Road and the extension of the Exit 192 interchange on I-57.
The extension will connect the interchange, which leads directly into the industrial district of Mattoon, via County Road 1000 North to Charleston.
These projects are expected to cost between $18 to $20 million.
The construction of the original exit 192 interchange on I-57 cost $20 million and was completed in January.
Johnson said county and local funds will be used to pay for roughly half of the project costs. He said these funds come from tax levies like the motor fuel tax, a tax area motorists pay in order to drive on highways.
Johnson said he is hopeful that an adequate highway funds bill will eventually be passed by the state legislature that will provide Coles County with enough funds to fully pay for these projects in concert with local funding.
While Charleston is not directly involved with these projects, it could be somewhat affected by the new state budget.
Mayor John Inyart said he thinks the interstate project funding for the interchange project will have the greatest impact on Charleston.
However, Charleston City Manger Scott Smith believes the budget may cut into some of the plans the city has already laid out.
"I've been deeply concerned about the various projects that we have going (or have planned) that would depend on state support and funding," he said.
Smith said state funding that would be used for local projects might not be provided by the new budget and would force these projects to be put on hold.
"Without a capital plan and the funding to support it, we're going to be forced
to put some projects on the back burner for a while," he said.
Jordan Crook can be reached at 581-7495 or at jscrook@eiu.edu.
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