University of Illinois President Timothy Killeen is again pushing a plan for the state to agree to a multi-year budget for the school in exchange for controls on tuition increases and other benchmarks. Killeen previously discussed the idea as a way to provide financial stability as the state continues to struggle with its budget crisis.
University spokesman Tom Hardy says state Sen. Bill Cunningham and state Rep. Michael Zalewski plan to introduce legislation that would put that plan into action.
The bill would set the state appropriation for the university's three campuses for five years. It would start at $662 million and increase annually by the rate of inflation. In exchange the school would commit to raising tuition only by the rate of inflation and providing certain levels of financial aid.
