SPRINGFIELD - Pontiac-area officials reacted skeptically Wednesday to news that Gov. Rod Blagojevich may be backing off his plan to close the maximum-security prison. "It put a smile on my face. But, I'll believe it when I see it," Pontiac Mayor Scott McCoy said. | Video: 'Save Pontiac Prison' photo day

The governor announced in May he wants to close the 130-year-old prison and transfer the inmates to a newer, unused facility in Thomson.

But on Tuesday, the governor did not include the prison in a lengthy list of cuts he's proposing to make in order to balance the state's budget.

On Wednesday, Illinois Department of Corrections spokesman Derek Schnapp acknowledged Pontiac, at least for the time being, is not in the financial cross-hairs.

"We are not planning on closing Pontiac at this time," Schnapp said.

Because the state's budget situation remains fluid, McCoy and state Sen. Dan Rutherford, R-Chenoa, say they are continuing to plan for an Aug. 12 public meeting at Pontiac Township High School, which is part of a state-mandated process when government facilities are closed or moved.

"I'm expecting a lot of people to be there," Rutherford said.

Rutherford has been touring the state in recent days calling for a moratorium on prison closings. He and state Sen. Christine Radogno, R-Lemont, want to create a special panel to review prison closings in order to remove politics from the process.

Adding to the skepticism about the Pontiac situation is Blagojevich's track record on prison closings. Since taking office in 2003, he's tried to shutter prisons in Vandalia, Stateville and Pontiac. None has been closed.

"This really means nothing. It's just words," McCoy said. "He'll wake up tomorrow and depending on if he has a bagel or eggs, he'll come up with a different decision."