A Senate panel blasted the state Transportation Department Tuesday for what lawmakers called a distorted report of the effects of a Senate plan to borrow $51.5 million from the road fund for general state programs.
The Illinois Department of Transportation released a report last week warning that new road construction totaling more than $200 million over the next five years would be halted if the Senate carried out the plan.
But members of the Senate Appropriations I Committee said the report was based on a false assumption by the the department that the Senate intended to continue diverting $51 million out of the road fund for each of the next five years.
”We made it clear that it was a one-time loan that would be repaid,”
said Sen. Forest Etheredge (R-Aurora).
The Senate proposed the diversion as a part of its effort to reduce Gov. James Thompson`s fiscal 1991 spending plan so that lawmakers can avoid enacting his proposed increases in cigarette and telephone taxes.
But department officials said there was no written guarantee that the funds would be repaid and that new construction could not begin unless the department was convinced that funding would not be diverted in future years.
”No matter what presumptions we use, the loss of $51 million means we have less funds to do projects,” said Kirk Brown, director of planing and programming for the department.
Included in the department`s list of projects in trouble if the Senate goes through with the plan are the Thorndale Avenue extension in Du Page County and construction of U.S. 51 between LaSalle-Peru and Bloomington-Normal.
”I am offended at what looks like a fabricated list,” Sen. Penny Severns (D-Decatur) said. ”It wasn`t available until three weeks after the plan passed the Senate, and I am convinced that the list was made available after the governor asked for the list.”
Sen. Howard Carroll (D-Chicago), chairman of the committee, said the effect of borrowing funds would be minimal because the department has surplus funds.
”Until there is an amendment to cut the road program, there ain`t no impact,” Carroll said. ”We saw $600 million in the bank.”
Transportation officials maintain that the surplus funds are needed to pay outstanding bills and the full costs of future planned projects.
In other action Tuesday:
– The Senate Judiciary Committee advanced a proposal that requires all businesses that hold state contracts exceeding $5,000 have an anti-drug program that includes informing employees of the dangers of drug abuse and counseling and rehabilitation programs.
– The state gaming board approved an application form for the licensing of potential riverboat casino operators who are seeking to operate floating gambling excursions on the Mississippi and Illinois Rivers starting next year. Potential operators must file the detailed applications with the board by July 1, and some firms interested in operating the boats have indicated they might have difficulty in submitting the forms, which require extensive financial information, before the deadline.
– On a partisan roll-call vote, the House Human Services Committee approved a measure to increase Medicaid funding for hospitals that treat large numbers of indigent patients in their emergency rooms, trauma units and outpatient clinics.
