Legislators fight to restore LDC funding

[MAY 30, 2002]  SPRINGFIELD — As the budget process nears an end, state Reps. Bill Mitchell, R-Forsyth, and Jonathan Wright, R-Lincoln, filed legislation Wednesday to restore funding for the Lincoln Developmental Center.

"Four hundred eighty local families and the local community would be severely affected by these proposed cuts," said Mitchell. "Our plan is to amend the legislation so that funding for 240 residents and 480 employees is included in the state budget."

Budget legislation passed by the Senate yesterday and sent to the House does not include adequate funding for the continued operation of LDC. The amendment proposed by Mitchell and Wright calls for $27 million to be appropriated to keep the facility open.

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"The House Republicans have gone through agency budgets line-item by line-item, and we have been able to identify areas of the budget that can be reduced that won’t hurt essential services and would enable us to keep LDC operating," said Wright. "For years, persons with severe developmental disabilities and their loved ones have come to rely on LDC for their care. We feel that it is in the best interests of the residents, their families and the local economy to keep this facility operating strong."

The lawmakers expect to vote on the budget amendment Wednesday and on a final state spending plan before June 1.

[News release]

[MAY 30, 2002]  SPRINGFIELD — Rich Brauer, Republican candidate for state representative, announced his support of legislation filed Wednesday to restore funding for the Lincoln Developmental Center.

Brauer attended a press conference presented by state Reps. Bill Mitchell, R-Forsyth, and Jonathan Wright, R-Lincoln, to show his support of the residents and employees of LDC.

"The governor’s original cuts would definitely impinge upon the residents, along with the families and employees, of the Lincoln Developmental Center," Brauer said. "I am backing Representative Mitchell and Representative Wright in their fight to restore these proposed cuts. This funding must be part of the new state budget."

According to Brauer, the amended legislation calls for $27 million to be appropriated to keep LDC open and in operation.

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"The revised budget has some new proposed reductions in the size of government; however, there is not enough. More can be cut without cutting Illinois’ vital services and programs," Brauer said. "I believe the House Republicans have found more areas that can be scaled back in order to restore funding to the Lincoln Developmental Center. The people of this area are counting on it."

The Illinois General Assembly is expected to pass a final state spending plan before Saturday, June 1.

Rich Brauer is the Republican candidate for state representative in Illinois’ new 100th District.

[News release]

Senate passes responsible budget; bureaucracy cuts made

[MAY 30, 2002]  SPRINGFIELD — Faced with a $2 billion budget deficit, the Illinois Senate passed a new Fiscal Year 2003 budget plan that contains $500 million in cuts while still protecting critical services, according to Sen. Claude "Bud" Stone. It’s the first hurdle in the budget process.

"Government must live within its means, and this budget does that," said Stone, R-Morton. "This is not a perfect budget proposal, but it is a responsible plan. It reflects our struggling state economy and meets our constitutional requirement for a balanced budget."

The measure maintains funding for priorities such as human services. "The Medicaid program is a vital program to ensure access to health care for all," said Stone. "This plan restores 50 percent of the Medicaid rate reductions originally proposed in February. There will be $330 million for hospitals, nursing homes, pharmacies, practitioners and managed-care providers."

The plan also keeps education a top priority. The budget "includes $6.2 billion to allow for a minimum level of $4,560 per student in state aid," Stone said. "Additionally, $1 billion would be allocated for the successful school construction grant program."

Stone says another key element in the budget included a decision to add back $25 million in previous cuts to the Department of Corrections. "This money will allow the department to make management decisions with[out] political pressures. They can use this money to avoid having to privatize prison commissaries," said Stone.

•  $1,500,000 for AgriFirst.

•  $6,060,900 grant for Soil and Water Conservation Districts.

•  $2.5 million for coal research and development projects.

•  $6.0 million to provide bond-funded support to projects that will help increase the use of Illinois coal.

•  $1 million for continued ethanol research.

•  $67.5 million for the School Safety and Education Improvement Block Grant.

•  $5.8 million new appropriation for the governor’s new Universal Preschool Initiative.

•  $180.4 million for the Early Childhood Development Block Grant.

•  $1,881,200 for agricultural education programs.

•  Public universities would be funded at the governor’s proposed level.

•  $5.0 million for full-year funding of 110 new emergency CILAs for developmentally disabled people and $6.5 million for annualization of 250 CILAs developed in FY02.

•  $2.45 million in transitional funding for 100 CILA placements of developmentally disabled people, evenly phased over the course of FY03.

•  $40.9 million, or 18.3 percent increase for the Home Services program.

•  Includes full restoration of funding to human services providers, which was not included in the governor’s original FY03 budget recommendation. This amount includes an additional $16.5 million for MI Community Service grants, an additional $32.8 million for community-based services for the developmentally disabled and an additional $20.1 million for long-term care for developmentally disabled people.

•  $616.2 million for the department’s child-care program, with no increase in child-care co-pay.

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•  $36.0 million for the Illinois Open Land Trust program.

•  $5,250,000 Capital Development Fund to be transferred to the Conservation 2000 Project Fund for projects associated with the Conservation 2000 program and the Illinois Rivers Initiative.

•  Implement SeniorCare program, offering expanded pharmaceutical drug assistance to all senior at, or below, 250 percent of the federal poverty level.

•  KidCare spending will increase by $24 million to cover an additional 17,500 children. KidCare spending will total $209.5 million in FY03 and provide health-care coverage for an estimated 208,300 children.

•  $1 million to fund Public Water Supply Vulnerability Assessments. This program allows the IEPA to provide grants to public water suppliers for vulnerability assessments in order to combat potential terrorism threats on the state’s various public water systems.

•  $14 million to fund the Brownfields Redevelopment program, which helps fund the cleanup of brownfield sites throughout the state by providing grants to local governments.

•  $252 million for financial assistance to local governments for sewer systems and wastewater treatment facilities, under the Water Pollution Control Revolving Loan program.

•  $98 million for financial assistance to local governments and privately owned community water suppliers, for drinking water infrastructure projects under the Drinking Water Loan program.

•  Fully funds the Circuit Breaker/Pharmaceutical Assistance program. The FY03 appropriation of $138,500,000 will cover 256,000 property tax grants and 62,000 pharmaceutical participants.

•  $7,375,800 for the Elder Abuse and Neglect program.

•  $6,618,500 for home-delivered meals.

•  Funding for 50 new cadets in FY03.

•  $2.3 billion for the FY03 road program.

•  Increase of $4.1 million to downstate public transportation systems.

•  FY03 budget includes $45.6 million for rail transportation, including $27.0 million to continue work toward development of high-speed rail passenger service between Chicago and St. Louis.

•  Includes $10.6 million for Amtrak.

The Senate approved the plan on a vote of 30-26-2. The proposal now heads to the House for consideration. Lawmakers have until midnight Friday to send a final budget plan to the governor. After that, it will take a three-fifths majority to approve any budget proposal.

[News release]

[MAY 29, 2002]  The resignation of officer Chris Carmichael, who represents the Lincoln Police Department on a six-county drug task force, is severely testing the hiring freeze the city council set in place a month ago to help solve city financial problems. Carmichael is the second police officer to resign within the month.

At Tuesday night’s committee-of-the-whole meeting, police committee chair Pat Madigan placed the possibility of hiring a replacement for Carmichael on the agenda for the June 3 meeting. Carmichael will leave the department June 16 to join the state police. Officer Mike Buchanan, who resigned effective May 7, was not replaced.

Chief of Police Rich Montcalm said if a new officer is hired immediately, that person can begin training at the state police academy June 17. Otherwise, training cannot start until September.

Montcalm said it is vital to replace Carmichael, who works full time and some overtime with the Central Illinois Enforcement Group (the task force). Six methamphetamine labs have been located in the city in just the month of May and 18 in the preceding year. He said the task force is an important asset for clearing them out.

The six counties involved are Christian, Logan, Macon, Mason, Morgan and Sangamon. Christian, Morgan and Sangamon supply two officers each, and Logan furnishes one. To remain a member of the task force, the city must also supply an officer.

If someone is hired, a current officer would be transferred to the drug task force and the recruit would replace that person on patrol, according to Montcalm’s plan.

Steve Fuhrer, former finance chair, said that although he supports the police department, the city should not hire a new officer while layoffs are under consideration. "We just said there was going to be a hiring freeze," he said, adding that no time to begin replacing was set when the freeze was put in place. "We’re going to have to tighten our belts, promote from within and make do with what we have to get the city back in financial shape." He noted that attrition benefits the city budget.

Alderman Bill Melton reluctantly agreed. "The timing couldn’t be worse," he said. "This is an important position, but still … we are desperate for funds."

Montcalm indicated that if the city council wants to continue in the task force but not to hire an officer, he will eliminate community policing programs.

He noted that, if Carmichael is not replaced immediately, the state will reclaim the unmarked vehicle it supplied for task force use. Some equipment in the car was furnished by Lincoln police and will be kept. The covert equipment supplied by the state will go back with the vehicle. If an officer is hired later, the city will bear the cost of re-equipping the car.

The city attorney, Bill Bates, urged council members to determine the overtime costs if no officer is hired. Like other items discussed Tuesday night, the issue is on the agenda for the June 3 council meeting.

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A second pending issue is changing the earliest hour when liquor can be served in public establishments on Sunday. Currently, the time is set at 1 p.m. Sean Taylor of Logan Lanes argued for a starting time of 11 a.m.

At the council meeting Taylor gave four reasons: First, it is difficult getting teams to travel for bowling tournaments if they cannot buy liquor early in the match. Second, football pre-game shows begin at 11 a.m., and fans at sports bars want to be able to drink as they watch. Third, NASCAR races also start at 11 a.m. Finally, brunches are most often served from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m., and restaurants want to be able to serve wine.

Prior to the council meeting on Tuesday night, the four members present of the five-member ordinance committee voted unanimously to recommend changing the hour to 11 a.m. for establishments that currently hold 1 p.m. Sunday licenses. The license fee would remain the same.

Other liquor ordinance issues which will come before the council on June 3 are creating a microbrewery license category and a possible additional license. The latter issue involves a particular case, but ordinance committee chair Fuhrer was not sure what type of license would be needed.

All three issues are on the June 3 agenda. If they pass, ordinance amendments will be drawn up and voted upon. If those pass, there is still a 30-day waiting period before they go into effect.

Also at the ordinance committee meeting, Tom Albert and Reggie Payne of Albert Service recommended that the city begin an inspection program for plumbing, heating and electrical upgrades. They showed photographs of faulty and dangerous wiring and plumbing in two local homes, one of which Albert said had been completely rewired within the past year.

Albert and Greg Tarter raised the issue of electrical inspections at the May 14 meeting. Fuhrer said he has collected codes from Bloomington and a smaller city. The committee will consider these in investigating the issue.

Finance chair Verl Prather added an early retirement policy for city employees to the June 3 agenda. The policy provides that employees who are at least 50 and have at least 20 years service can buy five years more on their retirement. Employees must pay their share of the five years within two years. The policy would offer a one-year window of opportunity. September 2002 to September 2003 is the period currently being discussed, but the council could set any year.

City Clerk Juanita Josserand said only two employees of the street department have expressed interest in early retirement, and money is available through a special Illinois Municipal Retirement Fund levy to cover them. As a special levy, the money cannot be used for any purpose but retirement funding. Bates warned that costs should be figured for all eligible employees. "If you pass it," he said, "they might develop an interest quick."

[Lynn Shearer Spellman]

[MAY 29, 2002]  SPRINGFIELD — A balanced budget plan approved Tuesday by the Illinois Senate holds some hope for area jobs, according to Sen. Larry Bomke, R-Springfield.

Bomke made a last-minute decision to support the proposal after the Senate included an additional $25 million for the Department of Corrections. This money could be used to keep sergeants on the job and to avoid privatization of prison commissaries, two ideas the governor proposed in his address on Memorial Day.

"I have fought against layoffs and against privatizing food services," said Bomke. "This certainly isn’t the budget I have worked for, but the plan approved today includes some of the ideas myself, AFSCME and other lawmakers have introduced to help save jobs for area families. The addition of money for Corrections today helped me change my mind. Once this money was added back to the budget, I felt I could support the plan to keep the process moving."

If lawmakers do not agree on a budget by Friday evening (May 31), it would take a three-fifths majority to gain approval. If negotiations drag out too long and the state’s fiscal conditions worsen, state employees could go without paychecks, something Bomke didn’t want to see in light of impending layoffs.

While this plan still calls for nearly 6,500 layoffs, Bomke hopes many of these positions will be filled due to increased funding for DOC, attrition and the early retirement package he sponsored. More than 7,000 state employees are expected to take advantage of this plan.

"No one wants to see area families out of work," said Bomke. "It’s my hope that many if not all of the displaced workers will be able to fill openings created by the early retirement proposal."

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The plan represents $22.5 billion in general revenue funds and balances cuts in spending with revenue enhancements, something Bomke and other Senate Republican lawmakers have fought for during budget negotiations. It also restores nearly $323 million in previous cuts to much-needed services.

Other highlights of the plan include the following:

•  $6.2 billion for education including $3.18 billion for general state aid and Hold Harmless, giving a foundation level of $4,560 spent per pupil in state funding.

•  Expanded funding for the school construction program.

•  $1.5 million for the AgriFirst program to market and package Illinois commodities locally to increase their value and create jobs.

•  $200 million in funding for LIHEAP to help low-income families with their gas and heating bills.

•  $1.5 million from the Abraham Lincoln Presidential Library and Museum Fund for the University of Illinois Springfield for governmental studies.

•  $40.9 million (18.3 percent increase) for the Home Services program as well as full restoration of funding to human services providers. This amount includes an additional funding for mental illness community service grants, developmental disabled community-based services and developmentally disabled long-term care.

•  Partial restoration of the Medicaid rate reductions proposed by the governor in February. This will ensure access to health care and that the state pays its bills on time to hospitals and health-care providers.

[News release]

[MAY 29, 2002]  SPRINGFIELD — Gov. George Ryan announced that the Illinois Department of Public Health will team up with the Illinois Public Health Association to sponsor “Preparing the Heartland,” the Illinois Bioterrorism Summit 2002. The May 28-30 summit at the Hyatt Regency Oak Brook will provide a comprehensive overview of the federal, state and local bioterrorism preparedness activities and bring together approximately 800 public health practitioners and first responders.

"This multidisciplinary program was designed to benefit a broad range of public health professionals involved in bioterrorism response," Gov. Ryan said. "The conference will provide the latest on preparedness activities, health and medical plans, emerging diseases, and new treatment methods."

State homeland security and public health officials will be joined by other conference speakers, including Richard Preston, a journalist and best-selling author of nonfiction books about public health disasters, including “The Hot Zone,” and “The Cobra Event.” Neal L. Cohen, M.D., commissioner of New York City’s Department of Public Health, also will address the conference. Dr. Neal will discuss his involvement in the events surrounding Sept. 11, including confronting the anthrax threat in Manhattan.

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According to state Homeland Security Director Matt Bettenhausen, "The program content is especially relevant to state and local health professionals with responsibilities in bioterrorism emergency response, along with those involved in public health administration, environmental health, nursing, communicable disease, laboratory, food protection, immunization, hospital emergency services and other health areas."

The director of the Illinois Department of Public Health, Dr. John Lumpkin, added: "The ultimate goal is to provide conference attendees with new ideas and practical information to assist them in preparing their communities."

[Illinois Government News Network
press release]

Gov. Ryan urges the General Assembly to put a responsible budget on his desk

[MAY 28, 2002]  SPRINGFIELD — Gov. George Ryan introduced a new Fiscal Year 2003 budget proposal that solves the $2 billion budget shortfall with cuts and new revenue and urged the General Assembly to take the lead and put a responsible budget on his desk during a joint Memorial Day session.

The new budget proposal equals $22.451 billion in General Revenue Fund, or GRF, allocations. GRF spending is about $260 million below the level proposed in February.

"This budget is a tough proposition to accept, but the alternatives before you — stalemate, deadlock and inaction — are worse for the people of this state," said Gov. Ryan. "It is time for us to show real leadership."

Through a combination of cuts and new revenue, including tax increases, this new proposal restores $323 million in previous cuts to important services including:

•  Restoring $165 million in state funds to provide health care for the poor, which will allow for an additional $165 million in federal matching funds.

•  Vienna Correctional Center will stay open.

•  Restoring $75 million in cuts to developmental disability and mental health services.

•  Restoring funding to subsidize child-care programs, eliminating an increase in child-care co-pays.

•  Restoring full funding for immigrant services: $1.7 million;

•  Increasing funds for Teen Reach: $1.3 million.

•  Adding $2 million to the appellate defender’s office.

•  Restoring $8 million to the homemakers’ program for the aged and fully funding the Community Care Program in the Department on Aging.

•  Maintaining at the original 2002 level the fare subsidy provided to the Regional Transportation Authority for the elderly, students and the disabled.

•  Funding for a new class of state police cadets in the coming year, maintaining the commitment to keep our roadways safe.

•  Funding the occupation of three cell houses at the state’s newest maximum-security prison, in Thomson.

The governor’s new proposal also includes $1 billion in short-term borrowing, which will be repaid by the end of the fiscal year, to allow the state to pay existing bills.

"It is unfair, particularly to small businesses, that the state is not paying for its goods and services because of our budget impasse," Gov. Ryan said. "With this balanced budget proposal, I propose borrowing so that we can get current on our bills and stave off financial ruin for hundreds of small-business people."

The governor’s top budget priority throughout his administration has been the education of our children. This budget proposal includes $1 billion in new bond funds for the highly successful school construction program. A pilot project for a statewide "universal access" to quality preschool programs and the "Great Start" program are also funded under this proposal.

Several other education initiatives are receiving full funding, including the Merit Scholarship program and the Illinois Century Network. Adult literacy programs, the Illinois Workforce Advantage program and "Skills Match" will continue to receive funding.

This budget also includes an appropriation of federal funds for Gov. Ryan’s innovative new "FamilyCare" program to provide health insurance to roughly 35,000 parents of children enrolled in the "KidCare" program. It also expands the number of Community Integrated Living Arrangements to help the developmentally disabled find a safe and productive home in a real neighborhood.

Budget cuts of more than $500 million are also proposed in other programs:

•  Higher-education funding will be reduced by $62 million; $20 million of that amount will be met by eliminating a fifth year of scholarships for students receiving grants from the Monetary Award Program.

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•  The Department of Corrections will save $50 million by closing the Sheridan Correctional Center, as well as several work camps and "boot" camps throughout the state, and some adult transition centers. More than 400 sergeants from the ranks of correctional officers will be laid off, saving $28 million. Additionally, the proposal includes saving $25 million by pursuing the privatization of food service operations in state prisons.

•  The Department of Human Services will close 11 local service offices throughout the state and the civil commitment wing of the Alton Mental Health Center. Operations at the DHS central offices in Chicago and Springfield will also be reduced. The TANF grant increase will also be scaled down from the level proposed in February, from 10 percent to 5 percent. Total savings from these cuts will be $43 million.

•  The Department of Public Aid, the Department of Transportation, the Department of Commerce and Community Affairs, the Department of Natural Resources and the Illinois State Police will reduce central operational costs at a savings of $40 million.

•  The Department of Children and Family Services will reduce administrative spending in areas that will not adversely affect programs and services, saving $25 million.

•  Anti-smoking programs, such as billboard advertising, throughout Illinois will also be reduced by $23 million.

Gov. Ryan’s plan includes $50 million in savings from implementing new personnel management policies in every state agency over the next year, including an early retirement program.

To ensure a balanced budget, Gov. Ryan has also proposed measures that will generate additional GRF funds. The proposal suggests shifting money within the state budget from funds that are flush with cash to the General Revenue Fund, allowing $150 million to be diverted to the GRF. Additionally, $30 million from the Road Fund will be used to pay for the operations of the Illinois State Police, and one-third of the $90 million in unused reserves being held by the CHIP program will be diverted for operations of that program.

"In my view, we cannot cut the budget any deeper in order to bring revenues in line with spending. To go any further would be harmful to the people we are obligated to serve with these programs," added Gov. Ryan. "So we must go in the opposite direction and make small changes to our revenue structure in order to make ends meet."

Revenue-generating proposals of $590 million include:

•  Increasing the state’s cigarette tax by 50 cents, raising $285 million.

•  Increasing the tax on the windfall profits of Illinois’ riverboat casinos, raising $185 million.

•  Increasing the real estate transfer tax to $1.50 for every $500 of equity, raising $120 million.

Additionally, the governor’s proposal calls for continuing existing state practices in regard to the depreciation of business investment for tax purposes instead of participating in a new federal tax program. The federal tax break will save Illinois businesses more than $2 billion, but the state treasury will not lose $240 million and local governments will not lose $150 million. Reallocating the distribution of the real estate transfer tax will generate $15 million, and keeping the state photo-processing tax in the state treasury will generate $25 million.

"I invite you to debate these proposals. Submit your own ideas for needed spending. But if you add a dollar in spending, you must also add a dollar in revenue to pay for it. I won’t accept smoke and mirrors. I will use my veto authority to bring spending in line with revenues. I will work with you around the clock if necessary. In return, I only ask for one thing: Send a responsible and balanced budget to my desk," said Gov. Ryan.

[Illinois Government News Network
press release]

[MAY 25, 2002]  On Monday, May 20, the Lincoln Rotary Club hosted a group of four professionals from India as part of the Rotary International Group Study Exchange Program.

The team from India took some time to talk to Abe during their visit to the Lincoln College Museum on Monday (see front page picture).

During the team’s one-day stay in Lincoln they also visited the NOAA weather station, the farm of Art and Jim Rohrer, and the Logan County Courthouse.

Each team member enjoyed individualized vocational tours in the afternoon. Sanjay Jha, a superintendent of police in Khanda, India, toured the Logan Correctional Center and Lincoln Police headquarters. Dr. Natu, a pediatrician, shadowed Dr. Ken Sagins and toured ALMH and the mobile health unit. Vindya Shetty, a television news producer, spent the afternoon with Jim Ash at Log On Productions. And, Dr. Preeti Mishra, a professor of commerce, met with officials at Lincoln College, Lincoln Christian College, the local chamber of commerce, and Abbott and Associates.

The team is spending one month in the communities of Rotary clubs in Rotary District 6490. During their stay, the team members will investigate vocational opportunities in central Illinois and speak to numerous groups about the Indian culture and social issues.

[Marty Ahrends]

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[Rtn. Dr. Vijay Natu, M.D.]	[Dr. Preeti Mishra, Ph.D.]
[Sanjay Kumar Jha, I.P.S.	[Ms. Vindya Shetty Ballal]

[Photos provided by The Rotary Foundation]

[MAY 25, 2002]  SPRINGFIELD — Gov. George Ryan announced Thursday that legislative leaders have agreed to his request that they convene the General Assembly for a 6 p.m. Memorial Day joint session at which he will introduce a new budget proposal for the 2003 fiscal year. The balanced budget to be introduced by the governor will solve the nearly $2 billion drop-off in revenue that occurred after the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks.

"The new budget I will present will reflect my best efforts to respond to all that I have heard about the budget in dozens of meetings with the legislative leaders and in hundreds of letters, calls and meetings that my staff and I have received from concerned citizens and organizations," Gov. Ryan said.

The governor said that meetings with the legislative leaders have yielded ideas but have not resulted in any agreements. The governor’s new budget plan will compile some of the best ideas from those meetings so that the members can vote to accept or reject them.

"Every lawmaker is trying to represent their constituents the best they can. But we have not been able to reach consensus among the legislative leaders in large part because their caucus members have competing priorities and concerns. With the new budget proposal, the entire General Assembly can debate the plan, raise their concerns and pass a budget," Gov. Ryan said.

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The governor said it is important to pass the budget by June 1, when a super-majority will be required.

"We have a budget crisis and we can ill-afford any delay. It is in the best interest of the people of Illinois for legislators to meet that deadline," Gov. Ryan said.

[Illinois Government News Network
press release]

[MAY 25, 2002]  SPRINGFIELD — Calling a plan by Senate Democrats to put new taxes on Illinois agriculture, business and industry "wrongheaded," Sen. Claude ‘Bud’ Stone vowed to fight any attempt to pass the tax increases.

"At a time when our state economy is fighting to recover from a downturn and the terrorist attacks last September, the plan offered by the Senate Democrat leader would throw our economy into chaos," said Stone, R-Morton. "These taxes will jeopardize thousands of jobs."

Emil Jones, who heads the Senate Democrat Caucus, has proposed new sales taxes on nearly all of the private sector. The proposal includes taxes on farm chemicals, machinery and equipment, coal, oil and distillation machinery, manufacturing and assembling machinery and equipment, newsprint and ink for newspapers and magazines, building materials and personal property within enterprise zones, and companies’ rolling stock.

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"These tax increases will cause tremendous harm all across Illinois, especially to downstate Illinois agriculture," said Stone. "The taxes on business and industry couldn’t come at a worse time, given the economic downturn we are experiencing. A well-respected publication, Site Selection magazine, recently put Illinois at the top of the 50 states for new and expanded facilities. I shudder to think what these tax increases would do [to] our state at a time when we are just beginning to expand our industrial base."

Stone said he will work to defeat the proposal by Senate Democrats if it comes up for a vote in the Senate, and instead he will continue pushing for cuts in spending, higher fees on riverboat gambling and better cash management to balance the state budget. The state’s budget deficit tops $1 billion.

[News release]

[MAY 24, 2002]  Ron Hall, representing Logan County Crime Stoppers, presented the Deputy of the Year award at Tuesday evening’s Logan County Board meeting. Logan County Deputy Douglas McCartney has been chosen to have the honorary title bestowed upon him. He was presented with a plaque of appreciation.

Sheriff Tony Solomon said that an example of McCartney’s outstanding work is his quick thinking that averted the evacuation of Elkhart. In response to a bomb scare on Oct. 5, 2001, he identified suspects and obtained a confession that the scare was a hoax.

McCartney has been with the Sheriff’s Department since February ’99. If you ask him what he likes about his job, he’ll tell you easily, "The different people you get to meet and the freedom of not being behind a desk." He adds that he likes being outdoors, and that’s part of the job, "You’re always outside for the most part. No matter what the weather is, you’re always out in it — the good and the bad."

[Photos by Jan Youngquist]

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McCartney and wife Kathy live in Chestnut. What he likes about it is that it is "quiet and small." They enjoy the house they bought two years ago. Especially at this time of the year, you’ll find McCartney doing yard work in his spare time, which he says he enjoys. He also likes to hunt and fish. He looks forward to going turkey hunting with his dad over in Schuyler County, as they have been doing for the past seven years.

Last month Crime Stoppers presented an award to Lincoln Police Officer Robert Rawlins as Officer of the Year. This is the first year the awards have been given. Crime Stoppers plans to make it an annual event.

[Jan Youngquist
and  Lynn Shearer Spellman]

[MAY 24, 2002]  The kickoff of the Lincoln Public Library’s summer reading program has always been a special event, but this year youngsters and their families have a real treat in store. It’s a "Journey Back in Time," a visit from the nationally acclaimed Pioneer Living Experience, and it gives kids and the grown-ups who come with them a chance for a hands-on experience of the way people lived in the 1800s.

The big day is Saturday, June 1, at the Lincoln Park District Recreation Center on Primm Road, from 9 a.m. to 12 noon.

The Journey Back in Time is a traveling museum with seven learning centers that give children of all ages a chance to experience what life was like in the 1800s. The Pioneer Living Experience isn’t just for children, either; they are encouraged to bring their parents and even, if possible, grandparents, to see the hundreds of artifacts that are part of the museum.

The Children’s Learning Center has a collection of over 40 handmade wooden folk toys and more than a dozen century-old school books, along with games, an 1800s school desk and slate boards for writing on.

At Ma and Pa’s Learning Center, youngsters learn what it was like to pump water from a barrel, wash clothes on a scrub board, and wring them out on a 150-year-old machine. They can also shave with a lather brush, just the way Grandpa used to.

Kids will also find out that bread didn’t always come from the supermarket. The Kitchen Learning Center gives boys and girls both the real feel of bread-making, grinding wheat seeds in a grinder and sifting them into flour, then rolling and kneading out the bread dough.

They’ll also learn that clothing didn’t always come from the store. They’ll learn how to card wool and hand-spin it into yarn. They can make their very own friendship bracelet, which they can take home to keep. Period clothing and plants that were used to make dyes for wool will be on display.

Things used in the home were very often made there, such as the quilts, braided rag rugs and tatted lace. Kids can touch these old-time crafts. They will see seed necklaces and dolls make from clothespins, corn husks, corn cobs, dried apples and chestnuts. Keepsake necklaces made from "trade beads" (really pasta) can be made to take home.

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At the Native American Learning Center, kids can explore an authentic hand-painted Sioux tipi and touch and identify animal furs, including bear, deer, raccoon, badger and beaver. The display also includes artifacts such as native crafts, tools and a rawhide drum, all of which can be enjoyed hands-on.

Finally, the young people can relive the excitement of the Gold Rush by panning for "fools’ gold," which the kids get to keep, and weighing their "gold" on a set of old miners’ scales.

This hands-on history program has been seen in nearly 10,000 schools in more than 20 states since its creation in 1989. It visits over 800 schools and other events each year.

Linda Harmon, assistant children’s librarian, who has seen the Pioneer Living Experience in operation at an area school, is enthusiastic about bringing it to Lincoln.

"I don’t believe there’s anything else like it around. They are booked all the time. We were lucky to get them, and it was only because they were going to be in Illinois for other bookings.

"It’s very hands-on, and the whole family can do it together. It will be really great if grandparents can come, too, and say, for example, "That’s the way we baked bread."

Pat Schlough, children’s librarian, says that though the traveling museum will be at the Rec Center between 9 and noon, she recommends getting there early, so the kids (and parents too) will have time to experience all seven of the learning centers.

[Joan Crabb]

[MAY 24, 2002]  SPRINGFIELD — Nearly 7,365 state employees are expected to retire under an early retirement plan sponsored by Sen. Larry Bomke, R-Springfield, and approved Thursday by the Illinois Senate.

The plan is expected to save the state nearly $356.5 million on payroll and salary each year as well as save some state jobs that would otherwise fall victim to layoffs.

"This is completely voluntary on the part of state employees, but many have indicated to me that they want an early retirement package," said Bomke. "The retirement system estimates more than 7,000 employees will take advantage of this plan, allowing us to reduce state bureaucracy and save money without forcing people out of jobs. Layoffs have been mentioned time and time again as a budget solution, and early retirement will help open up some jobs for employees who are otherwise in danger of being laid off."

House Bill 2671 allows state employees to purchase of up to five years of age and five years of service credit. Contributions can be made from sick and vacation time, with the balance, if any, to be paid in 24 installments from pension annuities. All contributions are on a pretax basis and will use the rate of pay and contribution rate as of June 1.

To qualify, employees must have at least eight years vested in the pension system and must terminate employment once they choose to participate in early retirement. The early retirement option will be available from Aug. 1 until Dec. 31. Once an employee chooses early retirement, he or she cannot be hired back full- or part-time and cannot return to state service on contract.

State employees must also meet existing eligibility requirements for retirement. The "Rule of 85," which Bomke sponsored in 2000, allows employees to retire when their age and years of creditable service equal at least 85. Otherwise employees may currently retire at age 55 with 25 years of service or at age 60 with eight years of service.

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Employees must also pay the full contribution rate for early retirement. This equals nine percent under the Teachers Retirement System, the TRS, four percent under SERS and either 6.4 percent or 10.5 percent under the alternative formula.

Members who fall under the alternative formula must also reach age 50 before being eligible to receive an annuity, despite the additional number of years purchased. The TRS early retirement provisions will only affect administrators at TRS and the State Board of Education, not employees in local school districts.

House Bill 2671 also takes steps to protect the pensions of employees who voluntarily or involuntarily took time off without pay during the state’s fiscal crisis.

SERS members may apply for up to five days of service credit for voluntary or involuntary furlough between Dec. 1, 2002 and Jan. 1, 2003. They must apply in writing to SERS or to their employer by July 1, 2005. No additional contributions are required to receive the furlough credits.

House Bill 2671 was approved 55-1-1 by the Senate and now returns to the House of Representatives for further consideration. If approved and signed into law, it will take effect immediately and employees can take early retirement beginning Aug. 1.

[News release]

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