The long-awaited DeKalb civic center proposal was killed Monday when Gov. Jim Edgar swung the budget ax.

And local officials are steamed about the loss of the $16 million project with little hope for the future.

Jack Shaw, spokesman for the Dept. of Commerce and Community Affairs, said all civic center projects that have not been started were stopped, adding it is unlikely they will be given the go-ahead in the near future.

“You never say never, but at least not in the foreseeable future,” Shaw said. “Next year the state budget will be just as tight.”

The DeKalb civic center would have been located west of the Chick Evans Field House on campus. The proposal, developed by the DeKalb County Metropolitan Exposition Authority, was for an arena that would hold up to 10,000 people.

NIU offered the land and $4 million. In return, NIU would use the facility for indoor sporting events and concerts, which would seat up to 9,000 people—3,000 more than the fieldhouse.

The city and county wanted the center for agricultural, industrial and business exhibits.

The latest halt adds to the crunch NIU has endured lately with the Rockford and Hoffman Estates extension campuses conflict, and the delay of the engineering building and Faraday II.

“To say the least, I am not happy” about the civic center cut, said Mayor Greg Sparrow.

Sparrow said he understands that Edgar has to cut the deficit left by former Gov. James Thompson, but contends the civic center would not have been a risk.

“I can’t help but believe we would hit the deck running in the black.”

The civic center plans were in the making for the past 16 years and were rejected during the summer by Thompson for involving a state university in a revenue venture.

Sparrow and Sen. Patrick Welch, D-Peru, agree Thompson was taking a political jab at Welch with the summer rejection. However, the two think Edgar has now given them the sign to drop all plans for a civic center.

“I think that the governor has sounded the death knell,” Welch said.

Welch suggested NIU request funding for its own athletic arena and business office complex through the Illinois Board of Higher Education.

“The governor thinks that all civic centers lose money, but a university building’s purpose is to serve students,” Welch explained.

Kenneth Beasley, assistant to NIU President John La Tourette, said he appreciates the suggestion, but academic buildings are a top priority.