HR0847 96TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY

HR0847 LRB096 18008 AJT 33380 r

HOUSE RESOLUTION

WHEREAS, The Illinois Department of Transportation (IDOT) Division of Aeronautics Bureau of Air Operations operates a Springfield-Chicago and Chicago-Springfield shuttle service between Abraham Lincoln Capital Airport in Springfield and Midway Airport in Chicago and also provides additional flight services upon request for the Governor, Lieutenant Governor, members of the General Assembly, Judges of the Supreme Court, Attorney General, Secretary of State, Comptroller, Treasurer, and others, as provided by IDOT; and

WHEREAS, According to a 2007 audit by the State of Illinois Office of the Auditor General, the fleet of aircraft used by IDOT for the shuttle service and additional flight services consists of 4 Beechcraft King Air airplanes and 2 Sikorsky helicopters; and

WHEREAS, The 2007 Auditor General report found that IDOT charged users of the State's aircraft $59.86 for a one-way shuttle flight between Springfield and Chicago, and the amount charged to users only covered approximately 14.3 percent of the actual expense to the State; and

WHEREAS, The 2007 Auditor General report found that the approximate cost of operating the IDOT fleet was $20,000,000 from 2003-2006; and

WHEREAS, The 2007 Auditor General report estimated that IDOT would need to charge approximately $270.10 for a one-way flight between Springfield and Chicago to cover the actual cost of operating the aircraft; and

WHEREAS, Flights between Springfield and Chicago are currently offered by commercial airlines, such as United Airlines; and

WHEREAS, The 2007 Auditor General Report found that IDOT did not include all costs of operating the State's aircraft in its cost reports, and IDOT has not fully analyzed the cost effectiveness of its air operation or the optimal fleet size needed; and

WHEREAS, A detailed breakdown of the actual costs of the air transportation services provided by IDOT is not easily obtainable; and

WHEREAS, Governor Quinn has estimated that the State of Illinois is expected to face an $11 billion deficit for fiscal years 2009 and 2010; and

WHEREAS, The Commission on Government Forecasting and Accountability is charged with the duty to study and recommend State fiscal and economic policies to improve the functioning of State government and the economy of the various regions within the State by Section 3 of the Commission on Government Forecasting and Accountability Act; therefore, be it

RESOLVED, BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE NINETY-SIXTH GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that we instruct the Commission on Government Forecasting and Accountability to study the actual costs associated the Illinois Department of Transportation (IDOT) Division of Aeronautics Bureau of Air Operation's Springfield-Chicago and Chicago-Springfield shuttle service between Abraham Lincoln Capital Airport in Springfield and Midway Airport in Chicago and additional flight services provided upon request of State employees and officials, and perform a cost-benefit analysis to determine whether such air transportation services is an efficient use of State revenue; and be it further

RESOLVED, That the Commission on Government Forecasting and Accountability analyze the actual costs of the air transportation services provided by IDOT by breaking down the costs of personnel, fuel, maintenance, insurance, landing fees charged by each airport, and other costs associated with the transportation services; and be it further

RESOLVED, That the Commission on Government Forecasting and Accountability analyze the actual costs of the air transportation services provided by IDOT by breaking down the costs attributable to the Governor, Lieutenant Governor, legislative leaders of the General Assembly, members of the General Assembly, Judges of the Supreme Court, Attorney General, Secretary of State, Comptroller, Treasurer, and other users; and be it further

RESOLVED, That the Commission on Government Forecasting and Accountability analyze whether it would be more cost efficient for the State to sell the aircraft used by IDOT for transportation of State employees and officials, except for one State aircraft to be used for the essential travel of the Governor, and requiring State employees and officials in need of air transportation services to be reimbursed for travel on commercial airlines, rather than IDOT providing the services; and be it further

RESOLVED, That the Commission on Government Forecasting and Accountability shall submit a report of its findings and recommendations to the General Assembly on or before January 1, 2011.