Full Text of SR0580 99th General Assembly
SR0580 99TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY |
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| 1 | | SENATE RESOLUTION
| 2 | | WHEREAS, In recent fiscal years, grants to various entities | 3 | | throughout the State have been closely
examined for their | 4 | | efficiency and usage of State funding; and
| 5 | | WHEREAS, On March 1, 2011, Cinespace Chicago Film Studios | 6 | | received a grant of $5 million
for a portion of the overall | 7 | | costs necessary to purchase both the Central Plant and the | 8 | | North Plant
of the former Joseph T. Ryerson & Son, Inc. Steel | 9 | | Plant for the creation of a film studio; and
| 10 | | WHEREAS, On March l, 2012, Cinespace Chicago Film Studios | 11 | | received a grant of $1.3 million
for the funding of energy | 12 | | efficiency measures that include, but are not limited to, steam | 13 | | boiler, pumps,
and lighting to be installed at its facility in | 14 | | Chicago; and | 15 | | WHEREAS, On March 1, 2012, Cinespace Chicago Film Studios | 16 | | received a grant of $1 million
for a portion of the overall | 17 | | costs necessary to purchase the South Plant of the former | 18 | | Joseph T.
Ryerson & Son, Inc. Steel Plant for the creation of a | 19 | | film studio; and | 20 | | WHEREAS, On August 1, 2013, Cinespace Chicago Film Studios | 21 | | received a grant of $10 million
to go toward costs associated |
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| 1 | | with the purchase of a commercial property located at 1420 | 2 | | South
Rockwell Street in Chicago, which is adjacent to the | 3 | | previously purchased properties, and
to reimburse the grantee | 4 | | for prior incurred costs associated with construction and | 5 | | renovation
activities conducted during 2012 and 2013 at the | 6 | | previously purchased "Central Plant", "North
Plant", and | 7 | | "South Plant"; and | 8 | | WHEREAS, Cinespace Chicago Film Studios returned a $10 | 9 | | million grant after significant
concerns were raised; and
| 10 | | WHEREAS, Many questions exist surrounding the timing and | 11 | | utilization of the multiple State grants that Cinespace Chicago | 12 | | Film Studios has accepted; and
| 13 | | WHEREAS, It is the duty of the leaders of this State to | 14 | | guarantee that State grants are being utilized
in a way that | 15 | | benefits Illinois and that they are used for the purpose that | 16 | | they were originally
granted; and
| 17 | | WHEREAS, $17.3 million in grants have been given to | 18 | | Cinespace Chicago Film Studios, and there have
been significant | 19 | | concerns about large grants dispersed to the Studio; therefore, | 20 | | be it
| 21 | | RESOLVED, BY THE SENATE OF THE NINETY-NINTH GENERAL |
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| 1 | | ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that the Office of the | 2 | | Auditor General is directed to conduct a performance audit of | 3 | | all State grant funds appropriated to Cinespace Chicago Film | 4 | | Studios from the State of Illinois; and be it further | 5 | | RESOLVED, That we urge Cinespace Chicago Film Studios and | 6 | | any other organization or agency relevant
to this audit to | 7 | | provide the Office of the Auditor General with all information | 8 | | that may be necessary
to the completion of this audit; and be | 9 | | it further | 10 | | RESOLVED, That the Office of the Auditor General commence | 11 | | this audit as soon as practical and
report its findings and | 12 | | recommendations upon completion, in accordance with the | 13 | | provisions of
Section 3-14 of the Illinois State Auditing Act; | 14 | | and be it further
| 15 | | RESOLVED, That a suitable copy of this resolution be | 16 | | delivered to the Office of the Auditor
General.
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