Spring Break
State funding stands still for Eastern
2006 budget cuts pensions, leaves state employees upset
Kyle Mayhugh/ Staff writer
Issue date: 2/21/05 Section: News
Gov. Rod Blagojevich's budget proposal for the fiscal year 2006 would give no new funding to Eastern and cut pension benefits for new university employees.
Blagojevich's proposal, which was announced Wednesday, would set Eastern's state funding at $47.6 million, the same as last year.
Eastern has received no increased funding the previous two years and had its budget cut the year before.
The static funding would mean Eastern and other Illinois public universities will have to raise tuition to cover increasing costs.
Under the proposal, which will have to be approved by the state legislature, all public universities would receive the same funding as the year before.
The proposal does reallocate the funds for the renovation of the Doudna Fine Arts Center, expected to begin in March. Under state law, the funding must be reallocated each year.
Union leaders from Eastern and elsewhere are protesting Blagojevich's proposal to help ease pressure on the state budget by cutting pension benefits for future employees.
Blagojevich's proposal involves cutting the benefits for all future state and university employees so the state can pay $80 million less into the pension fund this year.
"I think it's terrible," said Charles Delman, head of the Eastern chapter of the University Professionals of Illinois. "There is nothing wrong with the system as it is; this is not a structural problem, it's a funding problem."
The statement Blagojevich issued with his proposed budget, Wednesday, said the cuts would be "fair, reasonable and responsible."
Delman said the cuts in pensions would be an unnecessary juggling of state funds.
"The governor just has to have the guts to find new sources of revenue for the state to cover its obligations," Delman said.
UPI president Sue Kaufman issued a statement last week condemning the idea and asking union members to begin a letter-writing campaign to the governor and members of the Illinois General Assembly.
Blagojevich's proposal, which was announced Wednesday, would set Eastern's state funding at $47.6 million, the same as last year.
Eastern has received no increased funding the previous two years and had its budget cut the year before.
The static funding would mean Eastern and other Illinois public universities will have to raise tuition to cover increasing costs.
Under the proposal, which will have to be approved by the state legislature, all public universities would receive the same funding as the year before.
The proposal does reallocate the funds for the renovation of the Doudna Fine Arts Center, expected to begin in March. Under state law, the funding must be reallocated each year.
Union leaders from Eastern and elsewhere are protesting Blagojevich's proposal to help ease pressure on the state budget by cutting pension benefits for future employees.
Blagojevich's proposal involves cutting the benefits for all future state and university employees so the state can pay $80 million less into the pension fund this year.
"I think it's terrible," said Charles Delman, head of the Eastern chapter of the University Professionals of Illinois. "There is nothing wrong with the system as it is; this is not a structural problem, it's a funding problem."
The statement Blagojevich issued with his proposed budget, Wednesday, said the cuts would be "fair, reasonable and responsible."
Delman said the cuts in pensions would be an unnecessary juggling of state funds.
"The governor just has to have the guts to find new sources of revenue for the state to cover its obligations," Delman said.
UPI president Sue Kaufman issued a statement last week condemning the idea and asking union members to begin a letter-writing campaign to the governor and members of the Illinois General Assembly.
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