Tim Landis
State Journal-Register

Illinois chronic budget problems have become a significant challenge in efforts to attract companies and jobs to the city, top executives at the Greater Springfield Chamber of Commerce said Wednesday.

At the same time, relations with state economic development agencies have improved since the ouster of former Gov. Rod Blagojevich.

It has a very direct impact on what were able to accomplish in attracting businesses to Springfield and Sangamon County, Chamber executive vice president Erich Bloxdorf told a meeting of The State Journal-Register editorial board.

Bloxdorf said prospective companies are concerned about higher taxes, but are even more concerned the problem is getting worse.

Its one thing to have a state budget crisis if youve got a specific plan to address that. Theres just too much uncertainty, he said.

Chamber president and CEO Gary Plummer said relationships with state agencies have improved since the Blagojevich administration.

A lot of the things we saw the first couple of years I was here, while he (Blagojevich) was in office, seemed to be a little more political or public-relations oriented, and didnt have much substance, whereas the current administration is trying to be more responsive, said Plummer.

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