Budget

Many new lawmakers come to government with big dreams but often find they have little power. This is how several first-time Central Illinois lawmakers learned how to enact change in their own ways.

Labor negotiations, spending cuts, creating a new model for budget planning, developing the new College of Engineering, and, oh yes, graduation this weekend — Illinois State University has a lot on its plate right now.

Democratic U.S. Rep. Eric Sorensen calls Trump administration plans to zero out home heating and cooling help for "very low-income" people "cruel."

Residents concerned about potential cuts to federal Medicaid staged a protest Monday outside the office of Republican U.S. Rep. Darin LaHood, who represents parts of Bloomington-Normal.

The new vice president for finance at Illinois State University has been through several budget realignments and course corrections at other universities. Glen Nelson said he is bringing that experience in design thinking to ISU, though the process is well under way as he takes the position.

Democratic Sen. Dave Koehler started his sixth term looking to advance legislation in agriculture and environment, but says the state budget causes some uncertainty.

While the City of Bloomington will likely have to cut about 12 jobs per year for "probably at least the next three or four years" to plug a budget hole, the police and fire departments will not be part of any staff reductions, says city manager Jeff Jurgens.

Illinois State University's efforts to close a structural budget deficit include current year spending cuts of nearly $5.6 million.

In a "Dear Colleagues" email to the campus, provost Ani Yazedjian said every ISU division will cut its budget by 2% for the current budget year that began in July.

The newly formed Mental Health and Public Safety Fund Advisory Council — named after the fund Bloomington and Normal shared sales tax dollars create — had its first meeting on Monday, when members approved $1.5 million for new behavioral health initiatives in 2025.