Families get refund after college savings glitch

SPRINGFIELD — Illinois families can get their money back, but nothing more, after a glitch in a special promotion for the Bright Start college savings program.

Bright Start families were recently given the chance to contribute up to $250 and have the money matched. The offer was limited to 2,500 contributions, but there was no way for the public to know when that limit had been reached.

As a result, about 7,300 people contributed and then found out they didn't qualify for the matching funds.

Treasurer Dan Rutherford said Monday that those people will be allowed to withdraw the money without paying any taxes or penalties. But they aren't getting the additional matching money, as some people wanted.

A Rutherford spokeswoman says the program must follow the offer's original rules.