Quincy Reporter

Illinois State Senator Jil Tracy has introduced a bill proposing $67 million in funding to address abandoned state properties, such as the Jacksonville Developmental Center. Tracy described these sites as threats to public safety and first responders in a Facebook post on February 21.

"Thanks to the city of Jacksonville and its officials and economic development director and the Jacksonville press, they've brought to light the need to address abandoned state property like Jacksonville Developmental Center that has been abandoned for years and has become a threat to public safety and our first responders," said Tracy, according to Facebook. "I applaud the people of Jacksonville. I'm going to do everything I can to hold the governor to that. I have filed a bill which appropriates $67 million, which is an old estimate as what we needed, but hopefully that will be addressed this year."

According to her post, an image of a Jacksonville Journal-Courier report highlighted the Jacksonville Developmental Center, an 18-building property closed since 2012. Emergency personnel and police have responded to the site numerous times since its closure. Although the city has sought solutions, the property remains under state control. The Journal-Courier report notes that the budget includes $500 million for the "Surplus to Success" program, which aims to address state-owned properties like the Jacksonville Developmental Center. Once the Department of Central Management Services develops a plan for environmental assessments, appraisals, demolition, and remediation, the Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity will oversee development or demolition efforts.

Scrreenshot of State Senator Jil Tracy's Feb. 21 Facebook post | State Senator Jil Tracy's Facebook page

The "Surplus to Success" program is outlined in the proposed 2026 fiscal year budget as a state site readiness initiative. The budget allocates $300 million to the Department of Central Management Services and $200 million to the Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity (DCEO) to support and expand site readiness efforts. Additionally, funding will be directed to the Capital Development Board for demolishing and remediating non-surplus, unused state properties. The budget highlights several deteriorated surplus properties that could be developed, including the Jacksonville Developmental Center, Dwight Correctional Center, H. Douglas Signer Mental Health Center, and Lincoln Developmental Center.

The Jacksonville Developmental Center officially closed in November 2012 after its final residents moved into community-based settings across Illinois under Governor Pat Quinn's administration. At that time, it housed 84 residents, down from 196 in October 2011 according to reports by the State Journal-Register. Opened in 1851, it began caring for developmentally disabled residents in the 1970s. Upon closure, operating costs were $27.9 million annually with expected savings of $11.7 million.

Tracy has represented Illinois' 50th Senate District since 2022 after serving eight years in the State House of Representatives from 2006 to 2014. As a State Representative she was part of Rod Blagojevich's impeachment committee. Her career includes private law practice roles as Mt. Sterling City Attorney and Assistant Illinois Attorney General under Jim Ryan and Lisa Madigan respectively; she resides in Quincy with her husband and four children.