Higher Education, UI Would Get Funding Increases under Budget Proposal

Higher education would get a slight increase in funding in a year when many other states are preparing their colleges and universities to accept flat funding or cuts.

Governor Quinn's budget proposal lifts operating funds for higher education by a little over one percent - in the University of Illinois' case, that means a nearly eight million dollar boost from the current year, to around 750 million dollars.

U of I spokesman Tom Hardy says that's not close to what the school requested, but it's realistic.

"When you look at what's been proposed here, you see an increase in operating appropriations for the University that makes us whole on the 2 1/2% cut that we received in the current fiscal year, and then adds another one percent on top of that," said Hardy.

Governor Quinn's proposal for a capital bill also includes U of I projects, including the long-postponed renovation of Lincoln Hall and money for a new engineering and computer building. But Hardy is expressing caution, saying the state hasn't passed a capital bill in several years.