How suburban school construction plays out in stimulus debate
SPRINGFIELD - A handful of suburban schools whose construction funding has been stalled for years by Illinois political fighting now find their promised millions part of the national economic stimulus debate.
School districts in Winfield, Carol Stream, Villa Park, Ingleside and Northbrook are among two dozen statewide who've waited for state funding since at least 2002 but never collected because the state building account ran dry and state politicians could never agree on additional funding.
In some cases, projects were never finished. In others, local taxpayers made up for the state share that never came. All told, the state owes the districts and their taxpayers more than $148 million.
With Congress and President Barack Obama debating nearly a trillion dollars in federal spending in hopes of spurring economic recovery, some Illinois lawmakers want to make sure these schools are first in line for any federal construction money the state receives. The proposal filed by state Sen. J. Bradley Burzynski, a Rochelle Republican, is pending in the Illinois Senate.
The specific area school districts are: Winfield School District 34, Carol Stream Elementary District 93, Villa Park Elementary District 45, Westchester School District 92 1/2, Big Hollow School District 38, Northbrook Elementary District 27 and Westmont Unit District 201.
But just as political bickering stalled funding in Illinois, the federal construction money has become a bargaining chip in Washington, D.C., as the majority Democrats and Obama try to round up votes. The plan that passed the U.S. House included billions for school construction, with Illinois possibly getting nearly $657 million, federal officials said. But the version now advancing in the U.S. Senate cuts the school building portion. That version could be voted on as soon as today.
The overall status of construction spending and the entire stimulus plan remains up in the air.
Winfield Superintendent Diane Cody has been waiting since her district received a letter promising the state funding in 2001. The taxpayers of the district raised more than $8 million and the state was going to add $2.3 million for building additions and renovations.
"We are incredibly frustrated," said Cody. "On two separate occasions it was approved in the House and the Senate and turned down by Gov. Blagojevich."
The construction was started in 2003 and has since been completed. Local taxpayers had to foot the bill for what the state promised to match.
Cody believes that her district and the others have more of a chance to get funding now that Blagojevich is out of office.
"I believe Gov. Quinn is a fair man who will do the right thing," Cody said.