U of I asked to prepare report reflecting 20 percent cut in state funds

By The Associated Press

CHAMPAIGN – University of Illinois officials at the Champaign-Urbana campus say the state has asked them to put together a report reflecting a 20 percent cut in state funding.

The (Champaign) News-Gazette reports that means the campus' $670 million state appropriation would be cut by about $134 million. The Illinois Office of Management and Budget and the Illinois Board of Higher Education asked for the report last week.

Gov.-elect Bruce Rauner's transition team previously asked state agencies, including universities, about how a rollback of the state's temporary income tax would affect them. Rauner's spokesman had said the request was part of Rauner's budget-preparation process.

UI Vice President for Academic Affairs Christophe Pierre says the campus expects a clearer picture of its budget when Rauner gives his first budget address.

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