Ryan releases budget

Elizabeth Grimsley
News Reporter

Gov. George Ryan has proposed a budget for higher education that would include a 5.9 percent increase for the SIU system.

SIUE Budget Director Dan Corbett said if the proposed budget is passed by the Illinois Legislature, SIUE will see a rise in funds from $94 million to $101.6 million.

This increase is high in comparison to other state universities.

"There is a significant sum of money within SIUE's total budget that has been allocated to the operation and maintenance of the East St. Louis Higher Education Center, which SIUE recently took control of," Corbett said. "The actual increase to the university without that money is about 5.3 percent, which is comparable to other state universities."

Ryan's proposed budget for higher education totaled 6.3 percent, but Corbett explained that state-funded universities are only one category of education facilities covered by the term "higher education." That budget proposal also includes community colleges, adult education facilities, the Illinois Math and Science Academy for high school students and other specific aspects of higher education such workforce and economic development and teaching, learning, and quality. "SIUE always adds into the budget money for what we call the 'enhancement of student learning,'" Corbett said.

This money would be used to improve the teacher-to-student ratio, increase the opportunity for new programs and increase the inventory of courses offered to students. Corbett said this money will also help ease the stress caused by increased enrollment.

The money for this type of increase comes from student tuition or general funds as well as state tax dollars.

"For every dollar that a student puts toward their education in tuition, the state contributes $3 or $4 to the education fund," Corbett said.

The budget is now at the governor's level, waiting for approval by the Legislature.

"This year, the Legislature is more distracted than most years because it is time for them to do redistricting, so we don't look for the budget to come up until near the end of session in May," Corbett said.