Voters Get Chance To Change State Constitution On Funding Road Projects

Illinois voters will vote this fall on a constitutional amendment affecting road funding.  

Credit "Construction Cones" by Flickr User The Tire Zoo / (CC X 2.0)

In the past, the state has reallocated road funding to plug holes in the budget.  

Fed up with this move, road contractors and construction workers had an idea:  Amend the Illinois Constitution so these funds must be used on transportation needs, and nothing else.

Lawmakers overwhelmingly agreed to put the amendment on this year's ballot.    

Voters will make their decision without knowing Governor Bruce Rauner's stance.  A Republican, Rauner says he has an opinion, but won't share it.

"There are pros and cons to it. So you know, at this point it's in front of the voters and I'll let the voters decide,” Rauner said.

The governor says Illinois needs to invest more in infrastructure.  However, he acknowledged the lockbox idea would leave him without budget flexibility.

Copyright 2021 WNIJ Northern Public Radio. To see more, visit WNIJ Northern Public Radio.