ISU board passes a budget including a 10 percent cut in state funding

Posted on October 23, 2015

By Joe Ragusa

NORMAL – The Illinois State University Board of Trustees has passed a $422 million budget that includes an anticipated cut of 10 percent from the state.

The cut is equivalent to $7.4 million, although the actual cut in state aid could be a lot more. Governor Rauner proposed a cut of 31 percent, or $22 million. Rauner vetoed a budget earlier this year that included an 8.5 percent cut.

ISU president Larry Dietz said the board has the ability to amend the budget passed Friday to reflect the cut in higher education from the state.

“We’ll know more after the state passes a budget,” Dietz said. “We’re optimistic that it will be sooner rather than later that it will get us out of this situation where we’re trying to use a crystal ball to run the university. That’s pretty tough to do.”

Trustee Jay Bergman was the only vote against the budget. He said he didn’t want to vote for a budget that includes the unknown variable of state funding.

The state has not passed a budget yet for the fiscal year that started July 1.

Joe Ragusa can be reached at [email protected].

Blogs

Labor Day – Expanding voting rights for all

By Mike Matejka Because of COVID, there is no Labor Day Parade this year. It’s always a great event for our everyday workers to march proudly down the street and enjoys the festive crowd. If there had been a parade, this year’s Labor Day theme was to be “150 years of struggle: your right to vote.” …

Is federal mobilization the answer?

By Mike Matejka As President Donald Trump threatens to send federal marshals into Chicago, over the objections of Illinois Governor J.B. Pritzker, recall another Illinois Governor who protested the incursion of armed federal personnel into the city. Those federal troops, rather than calming, escalated the situation, leading to deaths and violence. Illinois poet Vachel Lindsay…

In these troubled times, to my fellow white Americans

By Mike Matejka Our nation is at a unique watershed in human relations. African-Americans have been killed too many times in the past before George Floyd, but the response to this man’s death is international and all-encompassing. I was a grade-schooler during the Civil Rights 1960s. I watched Birmingham demonstrators hosed and the Selma – Montgomery…

Workers’ Memorial Day – Remember those whose job took their life

Looking around our community, when we say employer, most will respond to State Farm, Country, or Illinois State University. We too often forget those who are building our roads, serving our food, or our public employees. COVID-19 has made us more aware of the risk. Going to work every day for some people means…