A local State representative is raising concerns after Governor J.B. Pritzker signed Senate Bill 2111 into law, legislation that moves state funding to support Chicago’s mass transit system. Representative Reagan Deering says the measure places an unfair tax burden on downstate residents while addressing what she views as long-standing financial mismanagement in the Chicago area, let alone by the Chicago Transit Authority.

According to Deering, the bill moves far beyond addressing an initial budget shortfall and instead commits billions of dollars in new funding over the next several years. She says the approach taken by lawmakers will result in higher costs for Illinois families, including increases in taxes and tolls, while redirecting money away from communities outside the Chicago region.

The new law diverts approximately $1 billion from the state’s road fund, followed by an estimated $473 million each year from funds traditionally used for downstate roads and bridge projects. In addition to the fund transfers, the legislation includes toll increases of roughly 60 percent for passenger vehicles and 30 percent for commercial vehicles, along with reallocations tied to the state’s motor fuel tax.

Deering believes that these funding shifts could have long-term consequences for infrastructure projects in downstate Illinois. She noted that many residents in her district and surrounding areas rarely, if ever, use Chicago’s mass transit system, yet will now contribute financially through higher transportation costs and reduced investment in local road maintenance. She also warned that pulling money from the road fund could delay or cancel planned construction and repair projects across rural and central Illinois, placing additional strain on already aging infrastructure. 

Residents with questions or concerns about the legislation are encouraged to contact Representative Deering’s office at 217-876-1968 for additional information.