The budget recommendations for fiscal year 1999 inched a step closer to confirmation Tuesday as SIU President Ted Sanders addressed the Senate Appropriations Committee in Springfield.

Sanders, along with university presidents from across the state, outlined the budget requests approved by Gov. Jim Edgar in February for the year beginning July 1. In his state budget address last month, Edgar commended what he called sweeping improvements by Illinois colleges and cited that as reason for his approval.

Included in SIU’s $12 million budget increase is a 3-percent increase in faculty salaries and $550,000 for faculty and staff retention. SIU also saw $18 million added to the capital budget for repairs and improvements. A portion of that money will be used to make improvements to Anthony Hall’s piping system. The increase brings the new budget to $292.9 million.

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The budget requests are made by the Illinois Board of Higher Education after it reviews the individual requests by the schools. IBHE then makes its own recommendations and changes the budget to meet its own specifications to send to the governor for approval.

Sanders could not be reached for comment.

Sen. Dave Luechtefeld, R-Okawville, who attended the meeting, said the increase in salaries will help the University.

One of the things he (Sanders) brought up was the fact that faculty are behind other universities in pay, Luechtefeld said. With this money, it changes that a little bit.

Despite fears the committee would not approve the budget, Luechtefeld said the committee was favorable to Sanders’ requests.

It didn’t appear there would be much resistance for what they have in the budget, Luechtefeld said.

Although the budget was not exactly what Sanders asked for, the request can be used as a foundation to build upon, Luechtefeld said.

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This very likely will not bring them up to where they would like to be, but hopefully it can be used as a start, Luechtefeld said.

Next the requests must pass the House and Senate on their way to Edgar’s desk for his signature.