Legislator slams $500k line item for closed college as ‘banner of
incompetence’
[July 19, 2025]
By Catrina Barker | The Center Square contributor
(The Center Square) – Illinois legislators are raising concerns over a
$500,000 budget item for Lincoln College, a private school that shut
down in 2022.
The earmark, added in a 2018 capital bill by then-state Sen. Bill Brady,
R-Bloomington, was never funded but continues to appear in the budget
each year because it’s still written into state law.
Critics call the situation “a banner of incompetence,” highlighting how
such outdated line items can clutter the budget and fuel worries about
mismanagement or misuse of taxpayer money.
State Sen. Sally Turner’s district included the Lincoln College
facility.
“If the money is legally designated for that purpose, it can’t be used
for anything else,” said Turner, R-Beason. “We have to request the
release of funds, and then they’re supposed to release it. But that
often doesn’t happen because the money isn’t available. They didn’t bond
for it. It all depends on the governor’s office approving the release;
it’s not up to the [Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic
Opportunity] to decide. Only once approved can the DCEO distribute the
funds.”
State Rep. Bill Hauter, R-Morton, whose district included Lincoln
College, said lawmakers get only hours to review thousands of budget
pages, leading to billions spent with little oversight under the
Democratic supermajority.
“It’s curious that legislators keep giving more power to the executive
branch through growing slush funds,” said Hauter. “Executive authority
is being expanded beyond its proper role, bypassing the legislative
process. Illinois budgets increasingly include slush funds for the
governor to spend at will, with money constantly moved around—making
oversight and accountability nearly impossible.”
With Lincoln College and Lincoln Christian University closed, and Logan
Correctional Center possibly closing soon, the town faces major economic
losses. Turner said the funds could support local redevelopment like the
Lincoln Developmental Center, but only if lawmakers legally repurpose
the money.
[to top of second column]
|
Illinois state Rep. Bill Hauter, R-Morton, debates on the House
Floor, May 30, 2025 BlueRoomStream
“It's not up to me to call for the money that had been placed in the
budget in 2018 by another senator. And now that entity doesn't exist
anymore,” said Turner.
Hauter said the error reflects deeper problems in Springfield.
“We’ve been raising concerns for years about where state money is
going,” Hauter said. “The governor has created multiple slush funds
that he controls, and we’ve repeatedly asked where that money is
actually being spent. In my view, it’s being funneled into things
like health care for illegal immigrants, welcome centers in Chicago,
or even abortion services for out-of-state residents, basically
whatever they want to hide.”
Hypothetically if the governor’s office released the funds to the
DCEO for that line item, Hauter expressed interest saying, “we’ll
use it for Lincoln College.”
“We’ll create an economic opportunity zone at the shuttered Lincoln
College,” Hauter said. “They did include money in the budget to
renovate the Lincoln Developmental Center and put in infrastructure
to help develop the area, and that’s a good thing. But this line
item for Lincoln College? It’s basically a banner that says
‘incompetent.’”
|
