Righter Readies College Funding Legislation

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Published on January 28 2016 9:51 am
Last Updated on January 28 2016 9:51 am
Written by Greg Sapp

Universities, community colleges and the Monetary Award Program (MAP grants) would receive much-needed funding from the State under legislation St. Sen. Dale Righter will file this week.

Higher education and MAP grant funding have not received a penny this fiscal year, due to the state's ongoing budget impasse.

(ST. SEN. DALE RIGHTER)

The Mattoon Republican said, "The legislature has failed to do its job, passing a balanced budget. Universities, community colleges and students who receive MAP grants are all at the breaking point. We must act now before more layoffs are announced, devastating cuts are made, and students are forced to skip returning to school due to the lack of MAP grant funding. If we say education is of the essence, let's put our money where our mouth is."

Under Righter's legislation, four-year colleges and universities would be funded at 80% of 2015 funding levels, two-year community colleges would be funded at 90% of 2015 funding levels, and MAP grants would be funded at 100% of 2015 funding levels.

The proposal invests $1.7 billion from General Funds in Illnois' Higher Education System.

The legislation would be contingent on another piece of legislation Righter will file this week being passed. That measure, called the Unbalanced Budget Response Act, gives Governor Bruce Rauner expanded authority and more flexibility to address the budget deficit in the state's current fiscal year and next year's fiscal year 2017 budget, by allowing the governor to move more money around to plug budget holes.

Righter said, "We've already seen what is around the corner if we don't act. Eastern Illinois University has announced potential layoffs and furlough time due to the lack of a state budget. We are running out of time. We must act now."