News

from the ILLINOIS BOARD OF HIGHER EDUCATION

Contact: Melissa Hahn | 217.557.7354 | 217.441.1066 cell | hahn@ibhe.org

Feb. 22, 2019

IBHE REACTION TO GOV. PRITZKER’S BUDGET PROPOSAL

SPRINGFIELD – If passed, Gov. JB Pritzker’s budget proposal would mark the largest percentage increase since fiscal year 2002 for public universities, and the highest increase in overall higher education operations in three decades. “After nearly two decades of budgets that offered flat funding at best and cuts at worst, this proposal offers optimism for Illinois’ higher education system,” said Nyle Robinson, interim executive director, IBHE.

“It is especially encouraging that Gov. Pritzker’s budget proposal addresses operations, student assistance, and capital.” The new dollars in Pritzker’s budget proposal total $137.49 million:

• $55.2 million in additional dollars for public universities

• $13.9 million for community colleges and adult education

• $50 million for MAP

• $10 million for AIM HIGH

• $3.8 million competitive grant at the Illinois Community College Board for minority student support services

• $4 million for Illinois Student Assistance Commission outreach services and operations

• $590,000 for the Illinois Math and Science Academy and the State Universities Civil Service Commission

Robinson added, “We talk a great deal in Illinois about the increasing outmigration of students, and we are encouraged that additional MAP and AIM HIGH funding would go a long way toward helping to address affordability for students and for reversing outmigration.”

Pritzker is also proposing $75 million in a re-appropriation for higher education emergency capital projects, and a $150 million lump sum for deferred maintenance. “Every university and community college has projects that have become health and life safety emergencies, so the money is sorely needed,” said Robinson. That $150 million lump sum would be a down payment on a multi-billion dollar deferred maintenance package.

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