Illinois Gov. J.B. Pritzker delivers his remarks prior to signing into law a massive expansion of gambling in Illinois and a $45 billion construction and infrastructure plan during a ceremony at the Lincoln Depot, Friday, June 28, 2019, in Springfield, Ill. The capital plan plan that will pour $45 billion into state construction projects to build and upgrade roads, bridges, parks and schools — and will require drivers, smokers and gamblers to pick up the tab. (Justin L. Fowler/The State Journal-Register via AP)
June 28th showcased Illinois’ Governor, J.B. Pritzker, announcing the state’s newest capital improvement bill totaling 45 billion dollars. The bill has earmarked a lot of projects around the state, and it isn’t isolated to one region.
Rockford is poised to receive a significant chunk of money allocated from Rebuild Illinois. Even yours truly, Rock Valley College, has been resourced a slightly over 800,000 dollars marked for maintenance. Although when reaching out to RVC Administration, officials are working with the Governor’s office for clarification and where the allotment of funds is being directed from.
Rockford is also being granted a special permit for a casino to be built. The Governor envisions this to be a great opportunity to fund the area’s pension systems from the tax revenue on this good. This is a drastic change in Illinois’ previous casino law. There had only been 10 licenses given for a casino permit and due to previous Illinois statues, they are all, “riverboat casinos.” Casinos on the water and video gaming slots on land is how it essentially was. Now Illinois has the opportunity to become the Nevada of the Midwest with the new regulations coming into play, and the Rockford region stands to benefit from it.
One of the proposed places for a casino by Rockford Mayor, Tom McNamara, is where the Clock Tower Resort used to be located. It’s now a vacant lot, with the former Coco Keys Water-park just sitting there. Possibly city leaders could argue for a location downtown that could tie in all the work that has been spent the last decade bringing that district back to life.
Along with the road work that is slated through the bill to be completed, a gas tax, cigarette tax, and vehicle registration tax was implemented at the first of July to help pay for these projects as well as future projects.
It’s a pleasant surprise to see the Rockford region slated to get a payday from Springfield, when in the past four administrations, it has seemed like the bureaucrats had glossed over this area for the glamorous shortcomings of Chicago/Cook County.
