Illinois State University did not get what it asked for in this year's state budget, but university vice president of finance and planning Glen Nelson said he's grateful to get any increase.
The state is giving ISU $83 million for Fiscal Year 2027, a near $2.5 million increase over what it received last year, but far short of the $20 million increase the university asked for.
"It definitely will spur us to continue looking at various opportunities to squeeze efficiencies out of the system where we can,” Nelson said.
ISU and other state universities in Illinois were pushing for a change to their funding formula, similar to how the state funds K-12 schools. Illinois lawmakers, who heard fierce opposition to that plan from the University of Illinois, kept the system the same and gave higher education a 1% increase.
ISU’s increase amounts to 3% because Gov. JB Pritzker never sent some contingency funding that lawmakers approved last year. The governor held the funding in reserve to offset financial emergencies caused by federal uncertainty.
Nelson added ISU’s increases over the last two years have not been able to keep up with increased wages and other operating expenses.
"We are in a fairly good position to weather the storm for a year, so to speak. But certainly over the long haul, a 1% a year increase does not keep up with inflation,” Nelson said.
Nelson said he was disappointed the state did not provide support for the special education teacher tuition waiver program, which covers tuition and fees for teachers to pursue careers in special education.
Nelson welcomed the $250,000 which state Sen. Dave Koehler earmarked to help the university launch a sustainability hub through the Illinois Innovation Network.
