An addition to Faraday Hall might not be built and the City of DeKalb will suffer a loss of about $37 million if the Illinois state legislature does not increase higher education funding, NIU President LaTourette said at a special meeting of the DeKalb Chamber of Commerce Wednesday.

An absence of a funding increase will mean Faraday II, an addition to NIU’s Faraday Building, will not be built. The building would have brought in $17 million and jobs to the community, LaTourette said.

NIU students living off-campus spend about $20 million for rent, $10 million for food, $7 million at restaurants and bars and $14 million at department, retail and clothing stores annually, he said.

If NIU is forced to cut back 1,000 students, “the loss to the community will be very, very severe,” he said.

LaTourette said Lester Brann Jr., State Chamber of Commerce president, said the fiscal 1989 budget will produce about $500 million in natural revenue growth, which is sufficient for the state to meet obligations to pay old medicaid bills, business tax funds and increase spending for education.

However, a letter from Governor James Thompson to Brann stated the natural re dnue growth actually will be about $643 million, but even that amount will not allow the state to stay even. A large percentage of the revenue must be used to pay fiscal 1988’s bills and for about 10 human needs services.

The letter also stated after the bills and services are paid for, little money is left to accomplish “much of what Illinois ought to be doing to assist economic development and to improve our (the state’s) response to child abuse, mental illness, environmental problems, education and much more.”

LaTourette said if the entire revenue is spent on education, there would not be any money for the bills or state services.

The state should give the $500 million to state services and fund another $500 to $600 million for education, LaTourette said.

For an increase in higher education funding, LaTourette said he suggested the DeKalb chamber support his idea of increasing the state personal income tax by one percent, because Illinois has one of the lowest income tax rates in the country.

However, he said state legislators disagree. “I don’t know how to get their attention. I’m amazed at their lack of interest (in the tax increase proposal),” he said.

Legislators seem to be concerned with their status with voters. “Even people in safe districts (legislators who won elections by more than 60 percent) are worried about their re-elections,” LaTourette said.

Tim Lehan, president of the DeKalb chamber, said Brann had no reaction to Thompson’s letter. He said Brann did say more money does not mean better education.

“I disagree with that,” Lehan said. DeKalb is interested in increased funding, he said. “I’m selfish because I’m a businessman,” Lehan said. DeKalb is facing a large loss. Lehan said he will ask the legislature to support the tax increase to avoid the loss.

Tax money is the most equitable and quick route to more money for higher education, “and the money is needed now,” Lehan said.

The entire chamber will decide if they will support the tax increase proposal in April, Lehan said.

Another DeKalb chamber member, Mario Fontana, said he will send letters to legislators in support of the proposal.