State budget axe cuts $6.4 million from SIU

University administrators unclear about cut’s dollar amount

One day after the governor’s budget address, news of cuts from this fiscal year’s state funding for universities appeared to be slowly trickling out, with some administrators still uncertain Thursday of how big a reduction will hit SIU’s budget this year.

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For the remaining months of this fiscal year, which ends June 30, SIU’s budget will be cut by 2.7 percent, or $6.4 million, two state officials said Thursday. In the upcoming fiscal year 2004, SIU, along with other universities, will suffer a funding cut of 8.2 percent, said Becky Carroll, spokeswoman for the Bureau of the Budget. This amounts to a $19.3 million cut next year for the SIU system.

Although the figures for fiscal year 2004 aren’t disputed, University administrators were surprised to hear that SIU would receive a 2.7 percent cut this year, which is slightly lower than the 2.9 percent they anticipated. The 2.7 percent figure was confirmed by Carroll and Don Sevener, spokesman of the Illinois Board of Higher Education.

“The blueprint is there now,” Carroll said.

John Dunn, provost and vice chancellor, said he hadn’t heard that amount before and added that the University is still formulating its budget plan and working out details. It is unclear how the $6.4 million cut will be shouldered between both SIU campuses.

Administrators have said that cuts could lead to layoffs and fewer class options, while Gov. Rod Blagojevich has stressed that cuts come from administrative waste-not the quality of education. Ten campus labor unions at SIUC have received letters informing them that layoffs are possible, a legal step necessary before employees can get pink-slipped.

Glenn Poshard, vice chancellor for Administration, said he is expecting a memo from Chancellor Walter Wendler this week that outlines the budget situation in greater detail. Wendler did not return a call for comment Thursday.

The budget planning process will continue and university officials will know more as the situation unfolds, said Steve Binder, assistant to SIU President James Walker.

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“We’re not aware of a change in the numbers,” he said.

Regardless of the dollar amount, rough days are ahead for Illinois, said Sen. David Luechtefeld, R-Okawville.

“No matter what happens, it’s not going to be a good year,” he said. “The governor has changed his numbers three or four times in the last three or four months. This is just kind of a blue print.”

Reporter Ben Botkin can be reached at [email protected]