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Illinois universities await state budget fate
By Kurt Erickson
kurt.erickson@lee.net
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SPRINGFIELD -- The Illinois Senate is poised to begin approving its version of a state budget Friday, but the leaders of the state's public universities aren't holding their breath for any financial miracle from the Capitol.

The plan being floated by Senate Democrats would give the state's public universities virtually no increase over what they are receiving this fiscal year.

That's not the case with the budget approved in the House on Wednesday. It affords universities an extra 2.8 percent in state funds.

For now, there is no agreement on which budget plan will emerge as the winner as lawmakers work to approve a spending blueprint by May 31.

Illinois State University spokesman Jay Groves said most universities are bracing themselves for no major increase, primarily because of the state's shaky financial footing.

In addition, Groves said it's hard to predict what will happen in the waning days of the legislation session.

''It's just a wait and see situation,'' Groves said. ''It can sometimes change so quickly.''

At Eastern Illinois University, Jill Nilsen, vice president for external relations, said the university is monitoring the situation ''very closely.''

''And, of course, we are hopeful the FY09 budget will include an increase in appropriation for Eastern Illinois University,'' Nilsen noted in an email.

EIU's allotment in the House is $50.8 million, while its Senate share would be $49.1 million.

ISU would get $85.6 million under the House budget, while it would receive $83 million in the Senate plan.

Southern Illinois University would receive $232.6 million in state funds under the House plan. The Senate's earmark is listed as $224.5 million.

Western Illinois University would get $61 million from the House and $58.3 million from the Senate.

In addition to the unknowns surrounding the House and Senate, the budget plan also needs Gov. Rod Blagojevich's signature. For the most part, he favors a funding plan that gives universities no additional money in the fiscal year that begins July 1.

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