|
 The
state budget approved by legislators in May cuts the funds available
to operate historic sites from $5.7 million in FY14 to $4.6 million
in FY15. That’s a reduction of $1.1 million, or 19 percent.
The incomplete budget also
leaves deep holes in the Preservation Services Division, which
reviews construction projects for possible tax credits.
Reducing hours of
operation will not balance the agency’s budget. That would require
more drastic steps, such as closing some sites completely. Instead,
these reductions are an attempt to tighten the agency’s belt as much
as possible until the fall legislative session, when IHPA hopes
lawmakers will reconvene and restore funding to FY14 levels.
“Several legislators have
said they want to reverse these cuts. We are grateful for their
support and optimistic that something can be done to prevent deeper
cuts to historic sites that contribute so much to education and the
economy,” said IHPA Director Amy Martin. “If the cuts aren’t
reversed, we’ll simply run out of money to operate sites next year.”
Many sites ordinarily
change their operating hours in the fall, when the summer travel
season is over. The Lincoln Tomb State Historic Site, for instance,
normally switches from seven days a week to five.
But now, because of budget
cuts, most schedules will be reduced even further and the shorter
hours will sometimes begin sooner. Here’s the list:
Apple River Fort (Elizabeth)
Operate four days a week (Thurs-Sun) instead of
five
Bishop Hill
Operate four days a week (Thurs-Sun) instead of
five, beginning Oct. 1
Dana-Thomas House (Springfield)
Operate four days a week (Thurs-Sun) instead of
five
David Davis Mansion (Bloomington)
Operate four days a week (Wed-Sat) instead of
five
[to top of second column] |
Cahokia Mounds (Collinsville)
Switch to five days a week (Wed-Sun) two months
earlier than normal
Fort de Chartres (Prairie du Rocher)
Operate four days a week (Thurs-Sun) instead of
five
Lincoln-Herndon Law Offices (Springfield)
closing for renovation
Lincoln Log Cabin (Lerna)
Operate four days a week (Thurs-Sun) instead of
five, beginning Oct. 1
Lincoln’s New Salem (Petersburg)
Switch to five days a week (Wed-Sun) two months
earlier than normal
Lincoln Tomb (Springfield)
Operate four days a week (Wed-Sat) instead of
five
Old State Capitol (Springfield)
Operate four days a week (Wed-Sat) instead of
five
Vachel Lindsay Home (Springfield)
Operate four afternoons a week (Thurs-Sun)
instead of five full days
Vandalia Statehouse (Vandalia)
Operate four days a week (Wed-Sat) instead of
five, beginning Nov. 1
[Text received; CHRIS WILLIS,
ILLINOIS HISTORIC PRESERVATION AGENCY] |
