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WNIJ's summary of news items around our state.

Illinois Secretary of State Gets Money … But Not Enough For Sticker Notices

Flickr user Pictures of Money / "Money" (CC BY 2.0)

A stopgap budget plan moving through the Illinois General Assembly won't be enough for the Secretary of State to resume mailing reminders of expiring driver's license stickers.

The office announced in September it would stop sending the notices via post because of the budget impasse. A stopgap spending plan will give the Secretary of State’s office $10 million.

But spokesman Dave Druker says they will not use it on the reminders:

“Not at this point,” he said. “We thought paying the landlords and the utilities rated as a higher priority.” 

Druker said Illinois is behind paying rent on more than 100 buildings that serve as motor vehicle facilities. And it hasn't paid utility bills in about six months.

Druker says most have been patient, but one landlord was close to kicking the state out, and a utility sent a shutoff notice.

"You know, these are folks that are in business,” Druker said, “and they've honorably entered into contracts with us -- leases -- and we hope that they can be paid as soon as possible."

The state owes Springfield's power company millions of dollars. The Secretary of State should soon be able to pay its bills; it's set to receive $10 million from the compromise partial budget plan.

Vehicle owners can check the sticker on their license plates for expiration dates, and they can request online that the Secretary of State send expiration notices via e-mail.

Amanda Vinicky moved to Chicago Tonight on WTTW-TV PBS in 2017.