Rauner threatens to close shooting complex
<span>In his latest move in a game of political chess with the Democrat-led state legislature, Republican Gov. Bruce Rauner has threatened to suspend operations at the World Shooting and Recreational Complex in Sparta as part of a list of spending cuts if no state budget is in place by July 1.</span>
<span>"Certainly, we would be very concerned about the loss of revenue from the visitors to Sparta and the complex," said Randolph County Board of Commissioners Chairman Marc Kiehna. "They generate hotel-motel sales tax money and that would be a concern for us."</span>
<span>First announced in a Friday news release, Rauner also threatened to suspend capital construction projects statewide, rollback rates for ambulance services, reduce funding for Amtrak and suspend funding for all coal programs at the Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity, among other cuts.</span>
<span>Excluded from the cuts were Department of Transportation projects.</span>
<span>"Governor Rauner has compromised repeatedly, but Speaker (Michael) Madigan and the politicians he controls continue to block any real reform," Rauner spokesman Lance Trover said in the release. "It's deeply troubling to see that Speaker Madigan remains committed to sacrificing the middle class in order to protect the political class."</span>
<span>If they come to pass, the Rauner cuts would result in the WSRC being closed to the public as of September 1. All events through August, including the Grand American, would not be affected.</span>
<span>The Grand American, and the Scholastic Clay Target Program (SCTP) National Championships bring a lot of visitors to the area.</span>
<span>Sparta earns anywhere from $40,000 to $50,000 in sales tax alone from those two events," said Sparta City Manager Corey Rheinecker, who added there was no warning in advance of the announcement. "It will definitely be a large economic impact for Sparta and Randolph County (if it closes)."</span>
<span> </span>The Rauner administration claimed in the release that the cuts will save $420 million with a warning that "more steps will be announced as they are finalized."
<span>"This budget crisis is not helping," Kiehna said. "I know the governor's pretty serious about getting this budget in line and I applaud his efforts, but there would be pain for us if (the WSRC) closes.</span>
<span>"Certainly, Rauner is not wanting to kick the can down the road as we've seen before. Tough medicine is what it is."</span>
<span>The rookie governor's announcement came roughly two months after a planned "Turnaround Illinois" tour stop at the WSRC was cancelled. A reschedule date has not been announced and Rauner has not visited Randolph County since he was elected to his post.</span>
Friday's announcement was the second time in two weeks Rauner has threatened to make extensive spending cuts in response to the budget passed last month by House Speaker Madigan and Senate President John Cullerton that is more than $3 billion short.
Sparta Mayor Jason Schlimme could not be immediately reached for comment.