State Rep. Dan Brady is the Brady is the Republican spokesman on the House Higher Education Appropriations Committee. (WJBC file photo)

By Eric Stock

BLOOMINGTON – State Rep. Dan Brady said Bloomington-Normal Airport Authority officials have asked state lawmakers to consider allowing the taxing body to expand its tax base to all of McLean County.

Brady, R-Bloomington, told WJBC's Dan Swaney there is precedent for this.

"It's something that's under review right now. There's nothing concrete that I'm aware of from any of my colleagues," Brady said. "However, it's been done in other counties and other municipalities with their airports, Peoria being one."

Currently, taxpayers in Bloomington and Normal support Central Illinois Regional Airport's operations. Brady said allowing the authority to tax all of McLean County might allow for some tax relief for those in the Twin Cities by sharing the pain. The airport is also seeking a developer to lease airport land for a hotel, conference center and restaurant to ensure the airport's long-term viability.

Illinois Budget

Brady said before work can be done on Gov. Rauner's budget proposal, the governor and the legislative leaders must first come to agreement to help three key areas that could run out of money.

Child care agencies, the Department of Corrections and court reporters are all caught in the cross-hairs of a $1.6 billion shortfall.

"Those are all major areas," Brady said. "I believe we will come to a consensus. I believe we will get there, but right now this is going to be the first showdown for Governor Rauner dealing with Senate President (John Cullerton) and the Speaker of the House (Mike Madigan)."

Brady said these financial shortfalls are the first real crisis signs for the budget that Rauner wants to cut. Rauner wants to trim spending for Medicaid, higher education and local governments.

Brady said he's gotten an earful from higher education officials who are concerned that Rauner's budget proposal was far more harsh than some had expected.

"It's going to make some people cranky," Brady said. "However, I've run into other people who have said 'it's about time, We finally have an honest budget. We finally have someone who is going to take the bull buy the horns and lead in Springfield.' "

Brady is the Republican spokesman on the House Higher Education Appropriations Committee. He said the governor's budget is likely just a starting point and there will be negotiations on what can be cut.

Illinois State University is projected to get a $23 million reduction in state money.

PODCAST: Listen to Brady's interview with Dan Swaney and Colleen Reynolds on WJBC.