Illinois officials marked last week the passage of the largest capital plan in its history and the first in nearly 10 years, investing $45 billion into efforts to fix battered infrastructure and spur job growth statewide.
The Rebuild Illinois effort will target roads, bridges, railways, universities, early childhood centers, and state facilities. When all is accounted for, its supporters say it could create and support as many as 540,000 jobs throughout Illinois over the next six years. Perhaps even more notably, it passed the legislature with bipartisan supermajorities.
“With this historic $45 billion capital plan, we’re fixing decades-long problems, creating good jobs, improving communities for the next generation – and doing it together, across party lines,” Gov. JB Pritzker said. “The Rebuild Illinois plan transforms our state’s approach to transportation infrastructure, finally treating our roads, bridges, and railways like 21st-century investments and not relics of the past. We’re also making critical investments in our higher education institutions, our crime lab, and veterans’ homes, early childhood centers, and expanding broadband access to communities across Illinois. With these investments, we’re creating and supporting hundreds of thousands of new jobs in our state. This is more than an infrastructure plan. This is a job creation plan the likes of which our state has never seen.”
The legislation achieves several ends. It puts up $33.2 billion for transportation efforts, $3.5 billion for education, $4.4 billion for state facilities, $1 billion for environmental initiatives, $420 million for deployment of broadband networks throughout the state, $465 million for healthcare and human services and $1.8 billion dedicated to economic and community development efforts. Additionally, the motor fuel tax will see a per gallon jump of nearly 20 cents, along with an increase of the special fuels tax and increases to other vehicular items, like titles and registration. The revenue collected from this should result in an extra $400 million per year for local governments, $250 million to transit districts and $590 million for the state.
“As Minority Spokesperson, I would like to thank Governor Pritzker and Transportation Committee Chairperson Sandoval for the bi-partisan spirit in which this initiative came together,” state Sen. Don DeWitte (R-St. Charles) said. “The sustained investment in our transportation & vertical infrastructure remains vital to ensure that our state continues to be attractive and viable to our residents, business partners, and future investors in our state’s economy.”
Among other things arranged for in the legislation are $22.6 billion in additional bonding authority for infrastructure efforts, putting the state’s authority at $60.8 billion. A series of funds are also being created to assist efforts, such as the Multi-modal Transportation Bond Fund, Transportation Renewal Fund, Regional Transportation Authority Capital Improvement Fund, Downstate Mass Transportation Capital Improvement Fund, and Rebuild Illinois Projects Fund. Lastly, the legislation also legalizes sports betting and authorizes six new casinos. Proponents say this will bring millions in new revenue for investment in things like affordable housing, hospitals, universities, and state facilities.
“Manufacturers need a modern infrastructure system to compete in today’s global economy, and this capital infrastructure program builds a bridge to the future. We applaud Governor JB Pritzker and lawmakers for making a game-changing investment in our infrastructure that improves Illinois’ economic competitiveness,” Mark Denzler, president and CEO of the Illinois Manufacturers’ Association, said. “Infrastructure creates jobs and allows for the efficient movement of people and products around the world. Rebuild Illinois also funds important career and technical education programs to help address the skills gap and workforce challenges facing manufacturers across Illinois.”