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U of I, EIU respond to Governor's budget

Governor Rauner’s budget plan would cut state money for higher education by 31 percent. ChristophePierre, the University of Illinois' Vice President for Academic Affairs, calls Wednesday's budget proposal disappointing. He says the university has other sources of revenue, but many come with restrictions on how the money is spent.

"For example, research that we need to spend according to the stipulations of the sponsor and for scholarships, for faculty chairs according to the gift agreements. So, the proposed cut is very significant."

Including tuition, grants, gifts and other revenues, the proposed state funding would cut about 6 percent from the U of I's overall budget.
Pierre says it's too early to know what size cuts might make it through the Democratic controlled legislature. In the meantime, university officials plan to lobby the governor and lawmakers to preserve university funding.

At Eastern Illinois University in Charleston, President William Perry says the cut would be “significant”, reducing their total operating budget by about 15 percent ---- or nearly 13-point-8 million dollars.

“But at the same time we realize that this is the start of a process that’s going to involve the General Assembly and we’ll be tracking that. And of course, we’ll be testifying later on this spring. We’re scheduled in March. And we’ll make the best case that we can for Eastern and, of course for higher ed in general, to maintain as much funding as possible.”

Perry says that whatever their state funding level next year, EIU will continue to meet its responsibilities in providing an excellent educational experience for its students.