Macomb, IL – The budget signed by Illinois Governor Rod Blagojevich provides an extra $1.6 million for Western Illinois University. As a result, some workers will benefit on pay day.
WIU President Al Goldfarb says much of the additional money will be used to give 3.5% pay raises to non-negotiated employees. Those include many administrators, staff members, and civil service workers. The raises will be retroactive to July 1.
Goldfarb says the funding will also be used to start planning for the university's proposed new engineering and nursing programs. Those programs still need to be approved by the Illinois Board of Higher Education.
The Fiscal Year 2009 state budget sets aside $59.9 million in general revenue funds for WIU. In addition, the Illinois Institute for Rural Affairs at WIU will receive $1 million for continued ethanol and value-added products research.
You can listen to an interview with WIU President Al Goldfarb by clicking on the audio button.
Additional information:
*Goldfarb remains concerned about the lack of a capital projects budget for the state. He says there is a critical need for money to pay for construction and maintenance projects.
*The two major proposed construction projects for WIU are the new Performing Arts Center on the Macomb campus and development of the new riverfront campus in the Quad Cities. Goldfarb says it's been five years since John Deere & Co. gave the Quad Cities site to WIU, but there's been no state money available to pay for development.
*Goldfarb is also concerned about the significant cut in state funding for a tuition assistance program for low-income students.