SPRINGFIELD -- In trying to shift as much money as possible to its biggest scholarship program, the state this year stopped reimbursing universities for giving veterans free tuition.

This summer, with the Illinois Student Assistance Commission facing a major cut in funding, the commission decided to shift almost all of its scholarship money to the need-based Monetary Award Program.

But that meant programs like the Illinois Veterans Grant were shorted.

Veterans in Illinois still get free tuition at state schools. But the state won't be reimbursing the universities for providing veterans a free education like they have in the past.

Paul Palian, a spokesman for ISAC, said MAP became the top priority because veterans wouldn't be hurt by pulling state funding of the tuition waivers.

"Our mission is to support the students," Palian said. "Unfortunately, the load falls to the institutions."

That means about $4 million this year for Southern Illinois University's Carbondale campus, where more than 700 veterans attend school, said budget director Carol Henry.

That $4 million will just have to come from other places around SIU, she said.

"Other units will have to cut back," Henry said.

For Illinois State University, it's about $3 million.

"It's just something we work into the budget," said ISU spokesman Jay Groves. "This is not the first thing that has happened with the state, obviously."

Earlier this decade, the state used to reimburse universities for the full cost of veterans' tuitions. But starting in 2003 - former Gov. Rod Blagojevich's first year in office - the amount of the reimbursement began falling.

The state faces a massive budget deficit, and Gov. Pat Quinn likely will make a second push to raise income taxes in January.

Earlier this month, lawmakers approved $200 million more in spending to fully pay for the MAP program without having a source of cash to pay for it.

On Tuesday, Quinn said he wanted to borrow $1 billion to pay for MAP and other state bills.