Pinckneyville prison gas & water bill grows to $335,137

It bothers most of us if we're "a little behind" on our water bill, the Ameren bill, the phone bill or the newspaper bill.

Du Quoin Mayor Guy Alongi Monday night said the Illinois Department of Corrections boot camp is behind on its water bill with the City of Du Quoin by about $11,000 as the city--like everyone else--rides out the budget feud between Gov. Bruce Rauner and House speaker Mike Madigan.

Yet, that bill pales by the check the City of Pinckneyville is waiting on.

Despite a payment to the City of Pinckneyville on Aug. 28 toward the water, sewer and natural gas bill for the Pinckneyville Correctional Center, the prison currently owes the city $335,137.32.

City Clerk Fran Thomas said it is not uncommon for the state to be behind on its utility payments. It has happened before. She fully expects the state to catch up and surprise Pinckneyville one of these days with a payment.

Same thing in Du Quoin. No thought to turning off the water as the city waits for $90,000 the state owes it in motor fuel tax funds and video gaming revenue.

Like a reoccurring nightmare, Gov. Bruce Rauner and House Speaker Michael Madigan last week returned to their fierce fighting tactics over the state budget standoff.

Rauner challenged the Democrats who control the General Assembly to pass reforms including term limits, legislative redistricting reform and a property tax freeze. If they do that, Rauner said he'll come to the bargaining table. Otherwise, they should pass tax increases on their own to finance whatever spending they want. "The time has come for legislators who support high spending in Illinois to make a decision: Join us in passing structural reforms and a balanced budget or continue to block structural reforms.