Tagged: Illinois budget

Funding for the Illinois Department of Natural Resources is likely to be called for another vote — either this summer if the Legislature is called back into session, or in the fall veto session — according to State Rep. Frank Mautino, D-Spring Valley.

Attempts to fund the department, which supervises state parks and other recreational facilities, failed to pass the state Senate this spring.

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The failure of Illinois lawmakers to approve a plan to support state parks means the Department of Natural Resources will continue to struggle financially. The agency is still figuring out what that mean for its parks, trails, beaches and programs.

Attempts to institute an entrance fee to state parks were shoved asside in the Genereal Assembly, and supporters attempted to raise the price of a vehicle license plate by $2 and dedicate those funds for state parks.

Illinois lawmakers have wrapped up their spring session. But they left some work on the table. 

The General Assembly did send the governor a budget. But Sen. Matt Murphy, R-Palatine, says it contains "gimmicks" meant to disguise bad policies.

"Pushing bills off. Moving them around," he said. "Trying to deceive the people into believing that fiscal responsibility has finally been visited upon their Capitol when clearly it has not."