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Rauner vetoes infrastructure funds for WSRC

Posted June 30, 2015 11:00 pm

By Pete Spitler The Herald Tribune

On June 30, Gov. Bruce Rauner signed House Bill 4166, which reappropriated funds for some previously-approved road construction and capital projects, but also included two line items in regard to the World Shooting and Recreational Complex in Sparta.

In total, Rauner approved all but $68.4 million of the $10 billion in statewide projects.

"Continued investment in our public infrastructure is critical to economic development," Rauner wrote in a news release announcing the signing. "We must maintain the infrastructure that has made Illinois a major transportation hub for the world economy.

"This bill enhances mobility, helps to maintain our state's competitive advantage, and supports construction and permanent jobs across Illinois."

Of the WSRC line items, Rauner vetoed one that earmarked $157,045 for "infrastructure improvements" at the WSRC. According to Department of Natural Resources spokesman Chris Young, that amount was to go toward road resurfacing inside the complex.

In the release, Rauner said he was vetoing earmarks, including nearly $32 million in Capitol building renovations, "in order to make those funds available for other priorities."

"We need truly competitive bidding to maximize the value of our resources, particularly during this time of fiscal crisis," Rauner wrote in the release. "State laws like the Prevailing Wage Act and the Project Labor Agreements Act are barriers to entry and inflate construction prices.

"We need to reform the way we spend taxpayer dollars in order to deliver the most value to our residents and businesses."

The other line item, for a reported $1,141,224, was approved for "development" expenses at the WSRC. The bill stated that the funds would be shifted, in coordination with the Capital Development Board, from the State Parks Fund to the Department of Natural Resources.

"The money that was not vetoed is being used to pay debt service on bonds that were issued to connect the City of Sparta's sewer lines to the shooting complex," said State Rep. Jerry Costello II (D-Smithton) in an emailed response to the Herald Tribune. "They had different, specific infrastructure improvements planned for the grant money that was vetoed."

In a June 12 news release, Rauner announced his administration would "suspend operations" at the WSRC starting Sept. 1 if a budget deal wasn't in place, or the one approved by the Democrat-controlled Legislature was.

The action was labeled as part of a number of "management steps" considered to save an additional $420 million, but the release did not state how much money closing the WSRC would save.

"We had a meeting with officials on Monday and we don't know what's going on," said Sparta Mayor Jason Schlimme, who declined to name the officials. "I don't think anyone is willing to commit to what's going to happen."

In an emailed statement on July 1, Costello said Rauner's veto is a sign the governor is serious about closing the WSRC.

"Gov. Rauner's rejection of funding approved by the General Assembly for the World Shooting and Recreational Complex only serves as further proof that the governor is serious about closing the complex on September 1," Costello said. "This latest action proves that he still does not understand the impact that the complex has on all of Southern Illinois, well beyond the boundaries of Sparta.

"The American Trapshooting Association estimates that the complex brings over $22 million annually to the region, money that is vital to keeping businesses open and residents employed in Southern Illinois."

Costello has also been circulating a petition to keep the facility open, with the goal of 10,000 signatures. On June 25, Rauner vetoed House Bill 4160, which included $3,412,000 from the State Parks Fund to be used for operating expenses of the complex.

"The petition drive that I launched on June 17 to keep the shooting complex open has already gathered well over 5,000 signatures from residents across the state, across the nation and from as far as Australia," Costello said. "The signatures from out of state and out of country are from those who travel to Southern Illinois because of the World Shooting Complex.

"Their money is poured into our region's economy at the hotels in which they stay, the campers they rent, the food and gas they purchase and the sales taxes they pay.

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