Supporters of the Illinois State Museum told state legislators Monday about a slew of reasons why it should remain open, but it doesn't appear like anyone who will make the decision on its future was there to hear much of it.
Gov. Bruce Rauner targeted the museum and its collections center. But advocates told lawmakers at a public hearing that shutting down the museum would open the door to lawsuits.
Rauner's Dept. of Natural Resources Director Wayne Rosenthal was the first to testify.
"I want to emphasize that no one likes to make cuts to programs and facilities," Rosenthal said.
But he says Illinois has no choice but to close the museum and the Dickson Mounds historic site: there's no money.
After him, every other person who testified at the four hour hearing advocated for keeping them open. That includes a child, researchers, mayors, and Sue Collins, who has worked at the museum for 30 years:
"If we let the Illinois State Museum close we're going to lose part of our history and we will lose an educational resource, and we will lose a part of our community and it will close a part of me," Collins said.
The bipartisan legislative commission will make a recommendation on whether the museum should shut down or not. In the end, it's up to Gov. Rauner.
Rauner says he's closing the museum to save money during a budget impasse. Advocates say the estimated savings of nearly $5 million is a drop in the bucket relative to the overall budget.
