SPRINGFIELD - A highly touted music festival in Chicago Saturday and Sunday drew an estimated 2,000 fans.

The cost to Illinois taxpayers: About $100 for each person who attended the inaugural Move! Chicago International House Music Festival.

State tourism officials, however, were anything but disappointed in the outcome of the event, which was bankrolled with a $200,000 state grant.

"We're thrilled about it on a couple of different levels. One, it generated a lot of great press for the city as being innovative in the music scene," said Jan Kostner, director of the Illinois Bureau of Tourism. "Two, the first year you do major events like these you're just educating people about the event. It's hard to get the huge crowds."

But, a ranking Republican on the Illinois House Tourism and Conventions Committee said she's worried the money went to waste.

"I would say it's unfortunate to spend that kind of money on an event that didn't do well," said state Rep. Suzanne Bassi, R-Palatine.

At issue is the state grant, which came to light last year as part of a secret pact between Gov. Rod Blagojevich and state Rep. Kenneth Dunkin, D-Chicago.

The money, which was negotiated in return for Dunkin's support of last year's state budget, came from a program long associated with pork-barrel spending that Blagojevich himself has previously criticized.

After the grant was made public in June 2005, Dunkin defended the money by saying the festival would draw tens of thousands of house music devotees to Chicago. The music is an electronic mix of disco-like dance music.

Dunkin did not return telephone messages left at his office Monday. Randy Crumpton, one of the principals of the not-for-profit group that received the money, could not be reached for comment.

But Kostner said there were no hints of problems that might have led to the attendance woes.

"I just think it was because it was the first year out for this. When you do an event for the first year, you're building awareness," said Kostner.

In addition, Kostner said organizers could still qualify for taxpayer assistance if they want to try again next year. "We believe it does have potential if they do want to do it again," she said.

Bassi said she would rather have seen the money go to establish state programs that aim to bring more international visitors to the state.

"There's little accountability with this sort of thing," said Bassi.