44TH DISTRICT TO RECEIVE $48.1 MILLION FOR ROAD PROJECTS
The 44th District is slated to receive more than $48.1 million for 14 projects affecting 17.12 miles are included in Illinois’ road plan for Fiscal Year 2012, which starts July 1, 2011.
The six-year plan also includes an additional $245.1 million for local roads and bridges.
Fiscal Year 2012 projects for the 44th District can be found at http://www.dot.il.gov/hip1217/ilsenate/sdist44.pdf. Among the larger projects planned for the region are $14.5 million for a bridge project on I-55/ I-155, north of Lincoln; and $18.7 million for resurfacing 13.9 miles on I-155 in Morton.
State funds for the road projects come from revenues that are specifically dedicated and earmarked for road construction, and cannot be used to pay other outstanding financial obligations.
Illinois’ proposed highway improvement program provides funding to maintain 3,248 miles of highways and replace or rehabilitate 611 bridges.
BRADY SEEKS TRANSPARENCY, ACCOUNTABILITY FOR STATE VENDORS
Bringing some transparency and accountability to the process by which the Comptroller pays state vendors is the aim of legislation I am sponsoring.
Senate Bill 1836 states that a State agency must submit a voucher to the Comptroller for payment of a vendor’s bill within 10 business days of receiving the bill, or return the bill to the vendor if it is determined to be incorrect.
Many of these businesses, which employ thousands of Illinois workers, are waiting months for payment. The state is imposing economic hardship on these employers, which in turn is jeopardizing the employment of its citizens.
Senate Bill 1836 requires the Comptroller to post a copy of the voucher on its Website within five days after it’s received. Vouchers should be shown on the Web site in the order in which they were received by Comptroller and be searchable by date and name of vendor.
Passed by a 58-0 vote of the Senate April 7, Senate Bill 1836 now moves to the House of Representatives for further consideration.