Public universities in Illinois are bracing for significant cuts in state funding if the General Assembly passes a budget anything like Governor Bruce Rauner's suggested spending plan. The governor has proposed cutting state money to universities by one third next year.
University of Illinois CFO Walter Knorr says adjusted for inflation, that cut would take state support of the U of I back to 1950s levels. Student population in the University system is now three times that of six decades ago.
Additionally, Knorr says public universities may have to begin absorbing a greater part of employee expenses, in what's known as a "cost shift."
"I think we have to be wary. They are talking about University employers picking up an additional share of healthcare costs. That's going to be in play here this session."
Universities have been told before that they may have to pick up some of the state's pension tab, but that proposal was put on the back burner as the state litigates its pension overhaul law.