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Proposal could send taxpayer money to private colleges
By Kurt Erickson
kurt.erickson@lee.net
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SPRINGFIELD — Although prospects for a statewide construction program remain in legislative limbo, its passage could result in millions of taxpayer dollars being funneled to the state’s private colleges and universities.

That has drawn concern from some lawmakers, who question whether public money should be going to places like Illinois Wesleyan University in Bloomington or Augustana University in Rock Island.

“I have a little bit of a problem with it,” said state Rep. Mike Bost, R-Murphysboro, who counts Southern Illinois University as the biggest employer in his district. “I don’t necessarily like it.”

Under terms of the proposal approved last week by the Illinois Senate, the state would set aside $200 million to help pay for construction projects at private institutions.

By contrast, the state’s public universities and community colleges would see an influx of more than $730 million for construction projects.

David Tretter, director of the Federation of Independent Illinois Colleges and Universities, said the money could help the schools comply with a state mandate requiring all college dormitories to be outfitted with sprinkler systems by 2013.

“This could be a crippling financial issue for some of these schools. It’s a good investment,” said Tretter. “We’re not talking about building Taj Mahals.”

At Illinois Wesleyan University in Bloomington, Carl Teichman, director of government and community relations, said the institution needs to retrofit some of its residence halls with sprinklers.

“This could be a way to get it done,” he said.

Bryan Marshall, a spokesman for Milllikin University, said the Decatur institution was not expecting any money through the program if the General Assembly and Gov. Rod Blagojevich come to an agreement on the plan.

Marshall said the university has already made sure there are sprinklers in all of its dormitories. “If that’s what it is for, we would not need it,” said Marshall.

The future of the overall construction plan remains in flux.

The Blagojevich administration has been vigorously promoting the plan in all areas of the state. On Tuesday, lawmakers and top aides were in Rockford and Champaign to call on the House to take action on the plan. A day earlier a similar event occurred in Mount Vernon.

The Illinois House returns to action Monday and will hold a hearing on cuts Blagojevich made last month that stripped millions of dollars in local projects from the state budget.

It is not clear whether the House will take any action on the construction program, which would be funded by a massive expansion of gambling, including a new, land-based casino in Chicago.

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Reader comments on this story - 6 total

Note: All views and opinions expressed in reader comments are solely those of the individual submitting the comment, and not those of the Pantagraph or its staff.

ken wrote on Sep 27, 2007 9:53 AM:

" Why Not,The state has lots of money. "

BNILForum.org wrote on Sep 27, 2007 8:59 AM:

" Those individuals, who have children attending private schools, should be given the option to direct their portion of taxes paid to a school, or schools, of said choice. "

JD wrote on Sep 27, 2007 12:58 AM:

" Now we start to see what all this obligating others because you feel obligated results in. Now that others feel obligated to help private schools, it is an outrage to obligate everyone? People in this area are so hypocritical, when they go out of their way to force everyone else to comply with their obligatory feelings, yet complain when they are forced to comply with others obligatory feelings. If you want more control over yourself, then quit trying to force your control on others. "

ED wrote on Sep 26, 2007 9:00 AM:

" now they want our tax dollars to pay for construction at private colleges,whats next.I work at ISU and we still have dorms without air conditioning in the student rooms so I think we need to take care of the kids that pay to go to state supported schools before private. "

Yeah Mike wrote on Sep 26, 2007 7:52 AM:

" After already paying for my daughter's 4 years at a private college, “I have a little bit of a problem with it” too. "

Money and more Money wrote on Sep 26, 2007 3:34 AM:

" I find it ironic as read this in the wee hours before going to work (which is near IWU). As I go by and look at the beautiful enormous library they built several years ago. So there is money for this building yet the dorms do not have sprinkers? Who is deciding where they spend their money? I am paying full tuition at a public university so I really dont feel my tax dollars should go to private universities to fund projects so more money is free to build an enormous building that even students who attend there recognize it is a bit grand. Tax dollars can only go so far. Now the potential financial drain exists with these private colleges having their hand out too. "
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