SPRINGFIELD - Gov. Rod Blagojevich wants to spend $11 billion on state construction projects next year, but it remains too early in the game to start revving up the bulldozers.

After failing in each of the past four years to convince lawmakers to back a statewide construction program, Blagojevich said Wednesday he would pay for the program with proceeds from a massive and controversial restructuring of the state's business taxes.

If the governor wins over opponents in the business community and the General Assembly, it could mean new schools in Johnston City, DuQuoin, Benton, Silvis, Hinckley, Stewardson-Strasburg and at least 20 other districts across the state. The plan also calls for $10 million to help build more preschools across the state.

State universities also would see money to get major building projects under way. Illinois State University is on tap for $44 million for the Visual Arts Center. Northern Illinois University is in line for a $19 million boost for Stevens Hall renovations.

But state lawmakers are not yet counting on the money for their districts.

"Until this administration stops spending money it doesn't have, I'm hesitant to give them anything," warned state Sen. Brad Burzynski, R-Clare, in summing up a major reason the governor's prior statewide construction plans have stalled in recent years.

State Sen. Mike Jacobs, D-East Moline, said the governor needs to spend some time in Springfield meeting with lawmakers to win over skeptics.

"I think he needs to get his hands dirty," Jacobs said.

In the past three years, the governor has spent countless hours trying to rally support for his construction plans. In 2006, he crisscrossed the state trying to drum up votes, saying the program would create 230,000 new jobs statewide over a five-year period.

After the governor announced his plan Wednesday, Senate President Emil Jones, D-Chicago, said it didn't go far enough.

He wants the state to add more casinos, which could generate more money for construction projects.

House Minority Leader Tom Cross, R-Oswego, earlier said he'd support a plan to add more slot machines to the state's existing fleet of casinos as a way to bring in money for a construction program.

State Rep. Mike Bost, R-Murphysboro, said that while he's normally opposed to gambling expansion, he'd consider backing the House Republican plan to pay for new roads and schools with 6,000 new slot machines spread among the state's casinos.

"No ifs, ands or buts about it, we need to do something," Bost said.

Although Blagojevich's budget doesn't detail which road projects would be built if a construction bill is approved, transportation officials say the ongoing widening of U.S. 51 between Decatur and Pana remains a priority.

While there are scores of specific local projects sprinkled throughout the spending blueprint, the governor also wants to boost spending on some more general statewide initiatives.

His budget earmarks $6 million to add 900 E85 pumps and $5 million for incentives to purchase flexible fuel vehicles.

He also wants approval to spend $25 million to add more ethanol and biodiesel plants.

Kurt Erickson can be reached at kurt.erickson@lee.net or 789-0865.