NIU will have to wait one more month before finding out whether it will receive the money proposed for the Rockford area extension.

After several years of bargaining, NIU is still waiting for $500,000 to be doled out by the state legislature, so work can begin on the proposed Rockford extension.

The money was allocated last January by former Gov. James Thompson for NIU to begin its $6.7 million project to build a new graduate studies center and centralize the Rockford operations.

State Representative E.J. “Zeke” Giorgi,(D), Rockford, said he doesn’t see any money flowing NIU’s way in the near future.

“My prediction is not soon, but the money is in the law. Because of the budget restrictions, it will take finding money from another project and allocating it to this,” Giorgi said.

The $500,000 allocation is on the list of projects to consider for the governor’s spending control committee, said Ellen Feldhausen, director of communication for Gov. Jim Edgar.

“There are a number of (other) projects on the list for consideration,” said Feldhausen.

Upon entering office, Edgar slowed down all capital spending projects to gain control of the massive amount of spending, she said.

As a result of this freeze on spending, the majority of spending is going to the renovation of old buildings, Feldhausen said. However, this does not mean that Edgar’s office will not allocate money for new buildings, she added.

“The spending control committee will meet sometime early this month, so the decision will be made either way this month,” she said.