Along with recommending a 2.5 percent decrease in state appropriations for the next fiscal year, the Illinois Board of Higher Education suggested five additional options to Gov. Pat Quinn,

Three of the six total recommendations are either decreases or a flat appropriation, meaning no increase or decrease from this year’s state appropriation. Eastern was projected to receive $50.6 million in state appropriations this year.

“It causes me concern,” said President Bill Perry about IBHE’s recommendations.

He said the first three recommendations are disconcerting because Eastern has high quality faculty, small class sizes and strong academic and student programs.

“Our ability to keep the quality up, the ability to meet our needs in terms of facilities, depends a lot on the budget,” Perry said. “I’m concerned that when we look at these different (options), three of them are non-increases or decreases.”

The six recommendations range from a 2.5 percent decrease to a 5.5 percent increase.

Conversely, IBHE’s lowest recommendation last year was a flat appropriation. IBHE’s highest recommendation was 6.7 percent for each public university.

Perry said as state appropriations substantially increase, the pressure from universities to increase tuition becomes relieved.

He said the last suggestion would help Eastern and other Illinois public universities keep higher education affordable for students.

“But it’s insufficient to relieve all pressure from tuition,” Perry said. “It would relieve a lot of pressure from the tuition issue.”

He said IBHE’s recommendations to Quinn reflect the economic state of Illinois. Illinois’ budget deficit is projected to be around $9 billion.

With Quinn delaying his budget address until March 18, Perry said the uncertainty about the state’s budget for fiscal year 2010 is extended. Because of this, he said the university would continue to spend conservatively.

“The more unknowns tend to make us more conservative,” Perry said.

With the delayed budget address, planning for tuition could also be extended.

Perry said he hopes the university will set tuition at the April Board of Trustees meeting like the university usually does. He said some universities have opted to set tuition in June.

“I don’t want to wait that long,” Perry said. “Families have to plan their expenditures and so forth.”

He said another possibility is the General Assembly could plan the budget quicker, knowing the need to resolve the financial issues of the state.

With the IBHE recommendations sent to the governor, Quinn now has to make a decision on how much funding higher education should receive. Perry said he does not know Quinn’s stance on the issue of higher education.

After Quinn took the oath of the office on Jan. 29, Al Goldfarb, president of Western Illinois University, sent a letter to Quinn on behalf of all presidents and chancellors of all Illinois public universities.

The letter, which was sent on Feb. 3, attempted to reach out to Quinn to address the need for more state support with higher education. Goldfarb suggested a meeting between Quinn and the public university presidents and chancellors.

Perry said Quinn has not yet replied.

The Illinois government has consistently cut funding to public universities since fiscal year 2002.

In response to the decreases, Eastern has steadily increased tuition.

For the 2006-07 school year, tuition comprised more of the general revenue budget than state appropriations-a first in Eastern’s history.

For the 2007-2008 school year, the same happened again.

In April 2008, Jeff Cooley, former vice president for business affairs, said Illinois appropriations have historically comprised two-thirds of Eastern’s general revenue budget. Now, the budget is split in half between tuition and state appropriations.

Perry said IBHE’s recommendations shows the board’s willingness to respond to the universities needs while factoring in the realities of Illinois’ economic state.

“Steps five and six are steps where the board is very aware of the affordability issue,” he said.

He added with three of the six recommendations not having increases, the university is preparing for the uncertain future as best as it can. Perry, however, said he is not pessimistic about the potential for higher education with the budget.

“We are going to have to continue, as Eastern always has, to do a lot with limited resources,” he said.

FACT BOX – IBHE’s six recommendations:

Option one is a 2.5 percent reduction from this current year, with a total of $2.15 billion going to Illinois public universities

Option two is a 1.1 percent reduction, with a total of $2.19 billion for universities

Option three is a 0 percent suggestion, with a total of $2.21 billion for universities

Option four is a 1.1 percent increase, with a total of $2.24 billion for universities

Option five is a 2.7 percent increase, with a total of $2.27 billion for universities

Option six is a 5.5 percent increase with a total of $2.33 billion for universities

Stephen Di Benedetto can be reached at 581-7942 or at sdibenedetto@eiu.edu.