McHenry County – Proposed Pork for Social Agencies, Historic Structures

Each state representative is said to have received $670,000 to distribute anyway he or she desires. Each state senator’s share of the pork pot is supposed to be twice as much–$1.3 million.

House Speaker Mike Madigan decided to put all the money in the budget on a recipient-by-recipient basis.

Of course, Governor Rod Blagojevich has said he won’t sign the budget because it doesn’t raise taxes enough.

State Reps. Mike Tryon (R-Crystal Lake), Jack Franks (D-Bull Valley) have districts contained entirely within McHenry County. Mark Beaubien (R-Barrington Hills) has a district that runs from north Crystal Lake up west to the Woodstock area and back to Lake County through southern McHenry.

McHenry County Blog searched the budget passed by the House and found local social service agencies would receive $615,000 from local state representatives. Local governments would get most of the rest. Tomorrow that money will be detailed. None of the budget line items have the sponsoring legislator’s name identified.

In alphabetical order, here is who received how much:

  • Adult and Child Rehab Center – $20,000 for equipment and operations
  • The Advantage Group (also known as TAG) – $100,000 for drug and alcohol rehabilitation services
  • Family Alliance -$20,000 for equipment and operations
  • Family Health Partnership – $200,000 for purchase of medical, lab, and computer equipment and dental, pharmaceutical and lab supplies
  • Family Services of McHenry County – $200,000 for costs associated with the purchase of a building, furnishings and computer equipment
  • Hospice of Northeastern Illinois – $20,000 for patient room
  • McHenry County Senior Services – $10,000 for services
  • NISRA (Northern Illinois Special Recreation Association) – $20,000 for equipment and operations
  • Senior Services Associates, Inc. – $25,000 for equipment and operations
  • Youth Service Bureau – $20,000 for equipment and operations
  • Hospice of Northeastern Illinois – $20,000 for patient room
  • Hospice of Northeastern Illinois – $20,000 for patient room

In addition two not-for-profits that own historic buildings received a total of $125,000:

  • (Crystal Lake’s ) Lakeside Legacy Foundation, which owns the Dole Mansion – $75,000 for costs associated with the purchase of historic structure in Crystal Lake
  • (Woodstock’s) Opera House – $50,000 for a grant

Franks and Tryon were sent emails asking which earmarks were theirs on Friday afternoon. There was no reply by the time this article was posted.


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