 The latest seeking shelter is the Illinois Historic Preservation Agency, which
foretells disaster unless state lawmakers make permanent the state's 2011
"temporary" income tax increase.Amy Martin, IHPA's executive director, told lawmakers if the temporary tax is
actually temporary, she'd have to slash her budget to "1986 levels" and close 10
of the state's historic sites. Martin doesn't have a list of which of Illinois' 56 historic sites would close,
but there are plenty. But here are a few places she can look:
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The Washburn House in northern Illinois.
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The Postville Courthouse in central Illinois.
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The Carl Sandburg home in west-central Illinois.
Why? Because none drew more than 2,000 visitors last year.
 Then there are any of the 11 Illinois historic sites that didn't raise a single
dime in donations in 2013. Some of the sites don't have donation boxes where
visitors can drop a buck or two. Others raise cash as part of a broader complex.
[to top of second column] |
But don't worry, Illinois' Abraham Lincoln sites are among the
most popular — though not most profitable — historic sites in the
state.
|
MONEY-MAKER: The Dana Thomas House in Springfield is the state's
top-grossing historic site. |
The state's historic money-maker is the Dana Thomas Home in the
capital city. The Abraham Lincoln Presidential Library is the all-time
top historic
site located in the state, but that's not owned by the IHPA. The IHPA, like just about every state agency under the control of
Gov. Pat Quinn, has been part of a parade of doomsday budget
presentations at the Capitol. All the agencies say if the state does
not raise taxes next year, they will not be able to carry on.
[This
article courtesy of
Illinois Watchdog.]
Contact Benjamin Yount at
Ben@IllinoisWatchdog.org and find him
on Twitter:
@BenYount.
Click here to respond to the editor about this
article. |
