IllinoisOpenGovBlog

The Illinois Arts Council and Their $1.4 Million Payroll

2010-03-12T14:55:35Z

In 2009, the Illinois Arts Council employed 24 individuals with a total payroll of $1,439,971.87. The employees ranged from an intern, who was paid $8,269.99, to the executive director, who was paid $110,193.00. This $1.4 million in wages is paid to a staff which provides "technical assistance and lends expertise to artists, arts organizations and community organizations that present arts programming.

The Illinois Arts Council was created "for the purpose of encouraging development of the arts throughout Illinois" by "assisting artists, arts organizations, and other community organizations."

You can find this information by clicking on "Payroll" and searching for "Arts Council" under the "department" section.

536 Pensions Greater than $100K

2010-03-11T23:52:52Z

Looking through our retiree pensions database, I found that 536 state retirees received pensions greater than $100,000 in 2009. The sum of these top pensions equaled $68,236,729.44. The largest pension was $212,536.44 for Ivan Pavkovic, a former Illinois Department of Human Services Administrator. Retirees with pensions greater than $100K include former legislators, police officers, judges, and administrators.

To find this information on the IllinoisOpenGov site, go to "Retiree Pensions" and search by "wages" more than 100000. To download the data, click on the Excel or CSV icon below the search results.

$100K to the Chicago International Film Festival

2010-03-11T16:41:44Z

In fiscal year 2009, the Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity gave $101,500 to the Chicago International Film Festival. That amount includes an $80,000 grant (grant #09333010), $11,500 for "Fee Agency Participation The Chicago International," and a $10,000 fee for participation in the Dark Knight Gala.

The Chicago International Film Festival is presented by Cinema/Chicago, which is "a year-round cultural and educational organization dedicated to fostering better communication between people of diverse cultures through the art of film and the moving image." Their stated goal is "to enrich Chicago's cultural environment by presenting film in contexts that encourage discussion and debate."

To find these expenses on the IllinoisOpenGov site, go to "Checks to Businesses & People" and enter "Chicago International Film" in the vendor field. To download the data, click on the Excel or CSV icon below the search results.

3,293 State Employees Made Over $100,000 in 2009

2010-03-11T16:36:15Z

In 2009, 3,293 Illinois state employees made more than $100,000 in wages. The combined wages paid to these employees equaled $498,887,897.90. The highest paid state employee was Vera Davis, a Physician with the Department Of Human Services, who made $332,632.20 in 2009. Employees that make up this block include plumbers, correctional officers, and physicians. All the aforementioned numbers are wages only, and do not include the benefit packages that many of these employees receive.

You can find this information for yourself by clicking on "Payroll" and sorting by "wages."

Payments to the Mississippi River Parkway Commission

2010-03-10T17:03:25Z

In 2009, the State of Illinois paid $30,800 in total to the Mississippi River Parkway Commission. The Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity paid the MRPC $15,000 for a one year membership renewal fee for the Illinois Bureau of Tourism. In the same year, the Department of Transportation paid the MRPC $15,000 in association dues, $500 for registration fees and conference expenses, and $300 for non-state employee travel.

According to the Mississippi River Parkway Commission brochure, "[i]n 1938, the MRPC was established by order of Congress to preserve, promote and enhance the scenic, historic, and recreational treasures along the Mississippi River." It states that the MRPC "is the only organization that unites all ten Mississippi River states, north and south, in a common effort to improve life, travel and local economies along the Mississippi River corridor."

To find this information on the IllinoisOpenGov site, go to "Checks to Businesses & People" and enter "Mississippi River Pkwy Comm" in the vendor field. To download the data, click on the CSV or Excel icon below the search results.

$250,000 to the Western Kentucky Carbon Storage Foundation

2010-03-10T16:46:42Z

In 2009, the Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity gave the Western Kentucky Carbon Storage Foundation a grant worth $250,000.00. Western Kentucky Carbon is a foundation which was created when "Peabody Energy, ConocoPhillips and E.ON U.S. formed the non-profit Foundation to work with the Kentucky Geological Survey in a project that includes drilling a well to test the Knox and Mount Simon geological formations at a site in Hancock County." The grant from the Department of Commerce was used to fund "a test well to research the permanent storage of carbon dioxide (CO2) deep underground in western Kentucky." In addition to the funds received from Illinois, the Kentucky Department for Energy Development and Independence has also provided money for the project.

You can find this information by clicking on "Checks to Businesses & People" and searching for "Western Kentucky Carbon" in the "vendor" section.

482 People, $225,678.72 in Funding

2010-03-09T17:03:26Z

In fiscal year 2009, the Village of Allendale, population 482, received $13,563.72 in "shared revenue payments" from the Department of Transportation, and a grant, number 06242002 (given in two installments on 8/20/2008 and 1/08/2009), worth $212,115.00 from the Department of Commerce.

Why did the state give the Village of Allendale $225,678.72 in 2009?

You can find this information by clicking on "Checks to Businesses & Individuals" and searching for "Village of Allendale" and "Allendale Village Treasurer Of" in the "vendor" section.

$570K on Registration Fees and Conference Expenses

2010-03-09T16:01:34Z

In 2007, 2008, and 2009, various state agencies spent a total of $574,759.74 on registration fees and other conference expenses. In 2008, the Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity spent the most with $93,402.96. In 2009 (by the time of our FOIA request), the Department of Transportation spent more than any other department with a total of $268,996.55. The table below breaks down the expenses by year and department.

There were nearly 500 entities that received payments for registration fees and conference expenses, including both reimbursements to state employees and payments to vendors. The three entities that received the largest payments were the University of Illinois ($46,455), Lincoln Land Community College ($44,080) and Learning Tree International ($33,145).

To find this information on the IllinoisOpenGov site, go to "Checks to Businesses & People" and scroll down "Category of Spending" to "Boothrental Costs for ... Conf," "Conf Fee...," "Reg Fee ...," "Registratin Fee ...," "Registration & Conference Pymnts To Vendors," "Registration Fee ...," "Registratn Fee ...," and other similar categories. To download the information, click on the Excel or CSV icon below the search results.

Department	Amount
2007	$1,200.00
Department of Veteran Affairs	$1,200.00
2008	$225,775.62
Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity	$93,402.96
Department of Healthcare and Family Services	$87,818.75
Department of Employment Security	$17,592.96
Department of Public Health	$16,900.00
Department of Veteran Affairs	$10,010.95
Governor's Office	$50.00
2009	$347,784.12
Department of Transportation	$268,996.55
Department on Aging	$27,498.00
Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity	$17,516.07
Department of Healthcare and Family Services	$13,629.00
Department of Human Rights	$7,305.75
Department of Veteran Affairs	$5,456.00
Department of Military Affairs	$3,550.00
Department of Employment Security	$3,248.75
Governor's Office	$350.00
Department of Labor	$234.00
Department of Financial and Professional Regulation	$0.00*
Grand Total	$574,759.74

*Expenses listed as $0 have been classified by their respective departments and are not available through the Freedom of Information Act.

Over $2,000 on Lighting at the Ethnic Village

2010-03-08T17:43:22Z

In 2008, the Department of Commerce gave B+B Electric Incorporated $2,464.00 to provide electrical support for lighting at the Ethnic Village. The Ethnic Village is an attraction at the Illinois State Fair which provides fairgoers with the opportunity to "experience many cultural groups as they showcase the traditions of their countries as well as make available a wide variety of food with an international flair."

You can find this information by clicking on "Checks to Businesses & People" and searching for "Electrical Support for the Ethnic Village Lighting" in the "category of spending" section.

$60K for Educational and Instructional Materials and Supplies

2010-03-08T16:38:53Z

In 2008 and 2009 (up until the time of our FOIA requests), various state agencies spent $62,753.48 on educational and instructional materials and supplies. The departments that spent the most were the Department of Transportation ($41,626.94), the Department of Military Affairs ($15,011.70), and Department of Human Rights ($3,097.21). The table below breaks down the expenses by year and department.

There are 44 vendors listed for these expenses, and fourteen vendors received more than $1,000. The largest payments went to HMH Supplemental Publishers ($9,976.50), NovaTech Solutions ($9,550.00), and J J Keller & Associates Inc ($8,746.87).

To find these expenditures on the IllinoisOpenGov site, go to "Checks to Businesses & People" and scroll down "Category of Spending" to "Educ & Instructional Materials," "Educational & Instructional Materials," "Educational and Instructional Materials &Supplies," "Educational and Instructional Materials& Supplies," and "Educational and Instructional Materials&Supplies."

Department	Amount
2008	$2,886.94
Department of Veteran Affairs	$2,845.06
Department of Healthcare and Family Services	$41.88
2009	$59,866.54
Department of Transportation	$41,626.94
Department of Military Affairs	$15,011.70
Department of Human Rights	$3,097.21
Department of Veteran Affairs	$130.69
Department of Financial and Professional Regulation	$0.00*
Grand Total	$62,753.48

*Expenses showing $0 have been classified by their respective departments and were not available through the Freedom of Information Act.

$50K on UI Benefits Handbook

2010-03-05T16:39:55Z

In 2009, the Department of Employment Security spent $50,870.50 on the IDES Unemployment Insurance Benefits Handbook. According to the IDES website, the UI Benefits Handbook "provides detailed instructions on how job seekers can apply for unemployment insurance benefits." There are two vendors for the expenses. Labor Tech Printing Inc of Joliet, Illinois received $30,979.92, and the GH Printing Company Inc of Downers Grove, Illinois received two payments totaling $19,890.58.

To find these payments on the IllinoisOpenGov site, go to "Checks to Businesses & People" and scroll down "Category of Spending" to "Sn 4446 Ui Benefits H&book -." To download the data, click on the Excel or CSV icon below the search results.

Over $3,000 for an Economic Forecasting Subscription

2010-03-05T16:16:02Z

In 2008, the Illinois Department of Employment Security paid Global Insight (USA) Inc. $3,363.50 for a subscription to their economic forecast. Global Insight (USA) Incorporated is a forecasting company based in Lexington, Massachusetts, which provides economic, political, and financial modeling and analysis. The subscription provides the state "access to databases of economic information, supplemented by an extensive collection of financial data."

You can find this information by clicking on "Checks to Businesses & People" and searching for "Global Insight (USA) Inc" in the "vendor" section.

$1 Million on Delivery of Drugs

2010-03-04T18:28:50Z

In 2008, the Department of Public Health paid Procare Pharmacy in Chicago $1,048,144.44 for "Delivery Of Drugs." The IDPH made two payments to Procare Pharmacy: one for $300,892.19 and another for $747,252.25.

According to the State Comptroller's OpenBook site, Procare Pharmacy has received $23,804,053.21 from the Department of Corrections and the Department of Public Health from fiscal year 2003 to fiscal year 2010, including $1,508,908.53 in FY2008 and $4,375,000 in FY2009. The OpenBook site does not list a category of spending for the expenses.

To find the Procare Pharmacy expenses on the IllinoisOpenGov site, go to "Checks to Businesses & People" and scroll down "Category of Spending" to "Delivery Of Drugs."

Over $10,000 for Information on the Labor Force

2010-03-04T17:33:38Z

In 2008 and 2009, the Department of Employment Security spent $3,487.30 on EI&A subscriptions, $133.68 on EI&A travel, and $10,766.90 on EI&A computer programs. The Economic Information and Analysis Division (EI&A) is a branch of Illinois Department of Employment Security which "offers a wide range of economic and demographic information related to the local, regional, and statewide labor force." Many of these payments went to newspaper and publishing companies such as, McGraw-Hill and The Peoria Journal Star Inc.

You can find this information by clicking on "Checks to Businesses & People" and searching for "CMS/BCCS CPU charges EI&A Prog," "EI&A Subscriptions," and "EI&A Travel" in the "category of spending" section.

Over $2 Million for Prairie State Power Company

2010-03-03T16:31:32Z

On January 9, 2009, the Prairie State Generating Company in Washington County, Illinois received a $2,000,000 grant from the Department of Commerce. This grant comes three months after the company received a grant worth $340,000. The Prairie State Generation Company (PSGC) "is the largest partnership of municipal and cooperative power agencies in the Midwest."

You can find this information by clicking on the "Checks to Businesses & People" and searching for "Prairie State Generating Co" in the "vendor" section.