State owes CWLP $5.5 million; holiday lights will still go up on Capitol

SPRINGFIELD -- With a budget passed, the state now has something to celebrate: Christmas.

The state will pay for holiday lights to go up on the Capitol building this year, according to Secretary of State spokesman Dave Druker. In 2015, Secretary of State Jesse White announced the annual tradition would be spiked to save the $7,300 it would cost in electricity bills. That year, Springfield was still able to enjoy the lights after the Basic Crafts Council of Mid-Central Illinois, a coalition of labor unions, donated the money. Last year, the state paid for the lights.

The state will start putting up the lights next week, pending a windless weather day, Druker said.

For about 300 accounts around the city, the state owes City Water, Light and Power about $5.5 million for its bills past due beyond 60 days, according to Amber Sabin, CWLP spokeswoman. Previously, past due bills owed beyond 60 days for state accounts totaled around $12 million. The state does not pay interest on the bills, Sabin said.

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