Another Audit Shows Millions of Taxpayer Funds Wasted
Illinois taxpayers are once again being left to ask what they received for tens of millions of dollars in state spending after a new Auditor General report examined the University of Illinois’ Discovery Partners Institute (DPI) and an abandoned headquarters project in Chicago.
According to the audit, the State directly provided $49.7 million to DPI, including approximately $37.9 million spent on its planned headquarters at The 78 development. Construction began in September 2024, but just weeks later, University of Illinois System President Timothy Killeen decided to abandon plans for the headquarters.
The headquarters was part of a larger initiative backed by $500 million in state capital funding and promoted as an investment that would help drive innovation, research, entrepreneurship, job creation, and economic development throughout Illinois.
Questions about DPI’s direction were also being raised internally shortly before the headquarters was abandoned. According to the audit, the Dean of the Grainger College of Engineering warned that not having an “intellectually-driven focus” presented a significant risk to DPI’s future. University officials told auditors those concerns did not drive the decision and said President Killeen ultimately made the call to change course.
State Senator Sally Turner says Illinois families work too hard for their money to see tens of millions of taxpayer dollars poured into projects that ultimately fall apart. She says taxpayers deserve a clear explanation of how the project reached this point, why it was allowed to proceed as far as it did, and what safeguards are being put in place to prevent similar situations in the future.
The findings come as other recent state audits have raised questions about the management and oversight of taxpayer dollars throughout Illinois government. Senate Republicans say the repeated findings should concern every taxpayer, particularly as Governor Pritzker and the Democratic Supermajority continue approving record levels of state spending.
The Legislative Audit Commission is expected to review the findings, with the co-chair of the Commission calling on University President Killeen to attend and answer questions.
New Law Provides Greater Flexibility for Rural Ambulance Services
A new Illinois law cosponsored by State Senator Sally Turner aims to help rural ambulance services remain staffed and available when residents need emergency medical care.
House Bill 5446 addresses staffing challenges that can make it difficult for ambulance providers in rural communities to meet existing state requirements. The new law provides qualifying rural ambulance services with greater flexibility to use part-time employees to meet staffing requirements, helping keep more ambulances in service and potentially reducing emergency response times.
The legislation received unanimous support in both chambers of the General Assembly and was signed into law as Public Act 104-704 on July 31.
State Senator Sally Turner says rural communities face unique challenges when it comes to recruiting and maintaining enough emergency medical personnel. She says providing responsible flexibility can help ensure an ambulance is available when someone experiences an emergency, while helping local providers continue delivering lifesaving services to the communities they serve.
Chicago Amusement Tax Offers Warning for Illinois Taxpayers
Chicago residents are already paying more to stream movies, listen to music and play online games, offering a glimpse at a tax idea that Democratic lawmakers have already considered expanding statewide.
Since January 2025, Chicago has imposed a 10.25% amusement tax on electronically delivered entertainment, including video streaming services and online gaming. The city previously taxed both digital and in-person entertainment at 9%, but raised the rate on digital entertainment while leaving the in-person rate unchanged early last year.
While amusement taxes are currently imposed at the local level by home-rule municipalities, Democratic lawmakers have previously considered taking the tax statewide as part of previous negotiations over funding Chicago-area public transit.
In previous legislation, Democrats proposed a 7% statewide amusement tax on a broad range of entertainment, including streaming services, live shows, concerts and sporting events.
The proposal would have meant that Illinoisans across the state could have been forced to pay another state tax to watch a streaming service at home, attend a concert or take their family to a sporting event.
That tax was ultimately stripped from the final transit package, but State Senator Sally Turner said that the fact that Democrats considered the proposal at all should concern Illinois taxpayers. She said that it just shows they are willing to continue reaching into taxpayers’ pockets to find ways to pay for even more government spending.
Illinois Makes Traveling Easier for Caregivers
The Illinois Secretary of State has implemented a pilot program that expands access to disability parking placards.
The new pilot program expands in-person disability parking placard services to 14 additional facilities across Illinois. The expansion follows recently signed legislation that allows legal guardians who transport children and individuals with disabilities who are incapable of driving themselves to obtain meter-exempt disability parking placards. Previously, meter-exempt parking benefits were primarily for drivers with disabilities and not their caregivers.
The new walk-in option is expected to help reduce application processing times and allow eligible drivers to more easily obtain their placards.
Meter-exempt disability parking placards allow eligible individuals to park in spaces reserved for persons with disabilities while also exempting them from parking meter fees and certain time limitations of 30 minutes or less.
Participating driver services facilities include the: Springfield Flagship, Chicago Flagship, Chicago North, Chicago South, Chicago West, LaSalle, Robinson, Rockford, Champaign, Carbondale, Peoria, Quincy, Moline, Macomb, and Granite City.
Illinois Farmer Mental Health Program Expands Under New Name
A statewide program providing confidential mental health support to Illinois farmers and their families has launched a new name and website as it continues expanding its reach.
The Farm Family Resource Initiative, which began as a pilot program serving six counties in 2019, is now known as FARM SOS. The program has grown to serve agricultural communities across all 102 Illinois counties. The rebranding is intended to make the service easier for farm families to recognize and access when they need support.
FARM SOS provides free, confidential support 24 hours a day, seven days a week. Its helpline connects farmers and their families with trained professionals who can provide emotional support and connect callers with additional resources. The program also offers up to six no-cost telehealth counseling sessions for individuals, couples, or groups.
The program is a partnership between the Southern Illinois University School of Medicine, Illinois Department of Agriculture, and Illinois Department of Human Services.
State Senator Sally Turner says ensuring Illinois farm families have access to resources when they are facing difficult circumstances is an important part of supporting the state’s agricultural communities.
IDOT Is Hiring Snowbirds!
The Illinois Department of Transportation (IDOT) is currently hiring over 1,500 temporary snow removal winter hires for their IDOT Winter Seasonal “Snowbird” Program.
IDOT hires two types of temporary positions within their “Snowbird” Program: Monthly Snowbirds and Hourly Snowbirds. These job postings are winter salaried, full-time or on-call temporary positions, perfect for individuals who are seeking seasonal work or long-term career paths.
IDOT is looking for talented and innovative people who strive to deliver solutions to help enhance the quality of life for Illinois residents.
For more information, please visit https://idot.illinois.gov/careers/seasonal-employment.html to learn more.
Illinois Takes a National Lead in Crisis Intervention Team Training
The Illinois Law Enforcement Training and Standards Board (ILETSB), in partnership with the Cook County Sheriff’s Office, has established a dedicated 24/7 callout line and email address for the Crisis Intervention Team (CIT) Crisis Response Therapy Canine Certification Program.
The statewide program provides specially trained therapy canine teams to support individuals and communities experiencing trauma or crisis. The new callout line and email address make it easier for schools, first responders, local governments, businesses, community organizations and residents across Illinois to request the assistance of certified crisis response therapy canine teams.
According to ILETSB, therapy canine teams may be requested for a wide range of situations, including:
- Critical incidents and crisis response
- School support following traumatic events
- Community healing events
- Public safety outreach and engagement
- Wellness events for first responders, students, and community members
- Other community events where therapy canine support may provide comfort and connection
To request a Therapy Canine Team, call 773-67-4DOGS (3647), Option 9, or email CITIllinoisTherapyK9@Illinois.gov.