BUZZ
Legislator suggests money can just be repurposed for anything with a similar name
For yet another year, Illinois legislators allocated $500,000 to a college that no longer exists.
Though Lincoln College closed in spring 2022, the state budget continues to set aside money for it, which critics suggest shows the rushed nature of the process.
But no worries says the local legislator – the money can simply be reallocated to another cause in her district.
“State Senator Sally Turner, a Republican from Lincoln, explained that the money has been part of the budget since 2018 and continues to roll over due to its inclusion in a previously passed law,” ABC 20 reported. “‘So that money’s still in there. However, it wouldn’t have any place to go to now,’” Turner said.
“Later on down the road, we could probably change that title to the city of Lincoln or to the furtherment of the development of Lincoln Developmental Center or something of that nature, if it ever gets funded,” the Republican legislator told the news outlet.
She then shared her concerns about the budget process, saying: “I don’t think is a very good thing for our constituents, because it doesn’t give us time to examine the things that are in the budget and the things that could be changed or tweaked to help us in different areas that we need help with.”
The college closed down in May 2022, blaming COVID-19 lockdowns and a cyberattack.
A statement on the college’s still live website explains:
The institution experienced record-breaking student enrollment in Fall 2019, with residence halls at maximum capacity. Unfortunately, the coronavirus pandemic dramatically impacted recruitment and fundraising efforts, sporting events, and all campus life activities. The economic burdens initiated by the pandemic required large investments in technology and campus safety measures, as well as a significant drop in enrollment with students choosing to postpone college or take a leave of absence, which impacted the institution’s financial position.
Furthermore, Lincoln College was a victim of a cyberattack in December 2021 that thwarted admissions activities and hindered access to all institutional data, creating an unclear picture of Fall 2022 enrollment projections. All systems required for recruitment, retention, and fundraising efforts were inoperable. Fortunately, no personal identifying information was exposed. Once fully restored in March 2022, the projections displayed significant enrollment shortfalls, requiring a transformational donation or partnership to sustain Lincoln College beyond the current semester.
The college is in Lincoln, just half an hour from the state capital of Springfield.
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IMAGE CAPTION AND CREDIT: Lincoln College; Lincoln College/Facebook
