By Associated Press
Springfield – AN ANALYSIS OF PLANS TO MOVE THE DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION'S TRAFFIC SAFETY DIVISION TO HARRISBURG HAS FOUND IT WILL COST SANGAMON COUNTY NINE-MILLION DOLLARS AND DOZENS OF JOBS.
THE REPORT PREPARED BY IDOT FOR THE COMMISSION ON GOVERNMENT
FORECASTING AND ACCOUNTABILITY ALSO CONCLUDES KEEPING THE EMPLOYEES IN SPRINGFIELD WOULD BE MORE EXPENSIVE IN THE LONG RUN.
IDOT WAS REQUIRED BY STATE LAW TO PREPARE THE REPORT FOR REVIEW
BY THE COMMISSION. IDOT SAYS THE MOVE OF ABOUT 140 JOBS WILL SAVE THE STATE MONEY AND HELP THE DEPRESSED SOUTHERN ILLINOIS ECONOMY.
COMMISSION EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR DAN LONG SAYS HIS STAFF HAS REVIEWED THE IDOT REPORT AND BELIEVES IT UNDERESTIMATES THE EFFECT OF THE TRANSFER ON SPRINGFIELD'S ECONOMY. THE COMMISSION HAS ASKED ECONOMISTS AT WESTERN ILLINOIS UNIVERSITY TO DO A SEPARATE ECONOMIC-IMPACT STUDY.
IF APPROVED, THE MOVE IS EXPECTED TO HAVE A POSITIVE 15-TO-20 MILLION DOLLAR ECONOMIC IMPACT ON THE HARRISBURG REGION.
