Putting Up New Curtains When Your House Is On Fire

by Kristina Rasmussen The state is spending hundreds of millions of dollars on renovating the capitol building in Springfield. That money is being spent even as Illinois state government faces billions in past-due bills. As one of my colleagues noted, it’s like putting up new curtains when your house is on fire. Here’s a run down...

by Kristina Rasmussen

The state is spending hundreds of millions of dollars on renovating the capitol building in Springfield. That money is being spent even as Illinois state government faces billions in past-due bills. As one of my colleagues noted, it’s like putting up new curtains when your house is on fire.

Here’s a run down of the capitol complex line items culled from a list of state-funded “capital” construction projects.

• Capitol Complex – Springfield – Capital Upgrades
  • $250,000,000
• Capitol Complex – Springfield – Sangamon County – Upgrade Fire Alarm Panels
  • $771,000
• Capitol Complex – Springfield – Sangamon County – Plan/Begin Upgrade of High Voltage Distribution System
  • $1,500,000
• Capitol Building – Springfield – Sangamon County – Renovation of HVAC and ADA Compliance – Phases II and III
  • $43,761,500
• Capitol Building – Springfield – Sangamon County – Upgrade Life/Safety Phases II and III
  • $6,000,000
• Capitol Complex- Springfield- Sangamon County- Fees associated with construction, for remodeling of office space and other support areas
  • $553,641
• Capitol Building- Springfield- Sangamon County- Misc Improvements
  • $3,883
• Capitol Building – Springfield – Sangamon County – Upgrade High Voltage Monitoring System
  • $275,496
• Capitol Complex – Springfield – Sangamon County – Upgrade Fire Alarm System in 2 Buildings
  • $17,992
• Capitol Complex – Springfield – Sangamon County – Stone Restoration
  • $323,373
• 222 South College Office Building – Springfield – Sangamon County – Demolition and Landscaping of Capitol Complex, in addition to funds previously appropriated
  • $964,131
• 222 South College – Springfield – Sangamon County – Demolition, or Renovation or Replacement of 222 South College Building and Landscaping of Capitol Complex
  • $586,444
• Capitol Building – Springfield – Sangamon County – HVAC Upgrade
  • $180,516
• Capitol Building – Springfield – Sangamon County – Upgrade for Life Safety and Fire Protection
  • $351,680
•  Capitol Complex – Springfield – Sangamon County – Architect of the Capitol for all costs related to Asbestos and Environmental Abatement in the Capitol
  • $1,801,429
• Capitol Complex – Springfield – Sangamon County – Office of the Architect of the Capitol for all costs related to Maintenance, Renovation or Restoration
  • 978,984