SPRINGFIELD, Ill. (AP) _ The presidents of several public universities say Illinois Gov. Bruce Rauner’s proposal to cut higher education funding by nearly $400 million would lead to significant setbacks at campuses.
The officials told a Senate panel Thursday that the cuts could not be offset by tuition increases.
Eastern Illinois University President William Perry says a proposed $13 loss million in state funding next year could mean hundreds of staff cuts.
Southern Illinois University President Randy Dunn says a $44 million cut at the Carbondale campus and another $20 million cut to the Edwardsville campus would put the university’s pharmacy and flight schools in jeopardy.
The Republican governor’s proposal was aimed at bridging an expected $6 billion budget gap without raising taxes. But some Democratic legislative leaders have called the plan unworkable.
