Education, health care, union representatives seek building funds in potential capital bill

As discussions of the state’s first capital improvements bill in more than a decade continue, a new coalition launched an effort Wednesday to increase the focus on vertical infrastructure projects.

The coalition calls itself Build Up Illinois and is composed of representatives of K-12 education, higher education, union groups, hospital advocates and more. Their goal is to put a focus on funding for new buildings in addition to road and bridge projects.

According to a news release from the coalition, the Illinois Capital Development Board estimates repairs would cost $7.8 billion at state facilities, just under $6.7 billion for public universities and $9.4 billion for preK-12 schools. The funding needed for road, bridge, sewer and water projects numbers in the billions as well.

State Sen. Andy Manar, a Bunker Hill Democrat, is a member of the Senate committee that has been touring the state to hear about infrastructure needs. He acknowledged it will be nearly impossible for the state to fund all infrastructure needs brought to the committee in the six meetings it has hosted.

Read more: https://www.sj-r.com/news/20190501/education-health-care-union-representatives-seek-building-funds-in-potential-capital-bill