State Budget Impact on University Of Illinois

Another day passed and still no budget deal out of Springfield. In fact, Rep. Bill Black of Danville says he won’t sign another budget extension if a deal can’t be met by August. If others go along with him, the government could shut down. That could mean big problems for employees at the University of Illinois. Some workers say they’ve seen the battle over the budget before, and they’re used to it. Others say it’s bound to take a toll. Salaries are largely dependent on state funding. One janitor says lawmakers need to get the job done. “It’s a little bit ridiculous,” said U of I janitor Louis Rawley. “You’d think that grown people could get this accomplished in a certain amount of time. They know that they have to do it so why not get it done.” While some workers like Rawley worry, University Relations say they’re optimistic. They’ve seen “overtime legislation” before, but they say this so-called “budget crisis” is a situation they’re watching closely. The state of Illinois is the largest source of outside funding for the University. It’s responsible for close to half of their $3.8 billion budget. A large chunk of cash, some workers at the University worry may shrink if lawmakers continue to stall. They have until August to finalize a budget. If no deal is done, then additional funding for the University could be delayed.