SPRINGFIELD – State Senator Rachel Ventura advanced legislation that would tackle surplus state-owned properties to save taxpayer dollars on their maintenance and upkeep.

“Our state has numerous state-owned properties that have either been vacant or unused, which in turn wastes taxpayer dollars,” said Ventura (D-Joliet). “This legislation will take both environmental and financial accountability on these surplus properties that have affected surrounding areas.”

Senate Bill 381 would require the Director of the Department of Central Management Services to assess surplus real property held by the state five years or more and determine whether the property is unsellable in its current condition.

JOLIET – State Senator Rachel Ventura recently announced that Joliet is set to receive $76 million from the Illinois EPA to enhance water infrastructure.

“To invest in our water infrastructure is to invest in our communities and their health,” said Ventura (D-Joliet). “With these funds, Joliet can complete the work on replacing water mains that desperately need to be updated in order to decrease the water leaks into the ground.”

The Illinois EPA announced nearly $205 million in water infrastructure loans for local governments and water districts through this round of funding. Of the investments, Joliet received the highest amount, giving the city the ability to tackle its ongoing restoration and deterioration issues.

SPRINGFIELD – State Senator Rachel Ventura led an initiative that will expand the permission for county boards to make county-owned property available for additional public use.

“Saving unique architectural or historic sites for the public just makes sense. Sometimes a county outgrows a building that could be leased to a private entity and still provide a valuable public use,” said Ventura (D-Joliet). “Rather than letting these historic and scenic spaces be demolished, they should be put to good use.”

Senate Bill 2651 would allow a county to maintain, restore or reuse places of architectural, historic or scenic significance and would allow them to lease or license county-held property to public or private entities for up to 99 years.