IL Legislator Slams $500k Line Item for Closed College as ‘Banner of Incompetence’

llinois 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Critics call the situation “a banner of incompetence,” highlighting how such outdated line items can clutter the budget and fuel worries about mismanagement or misuse of taxpayer money.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.”