NIU is planning for an $11.6 million funding cut from the state.

The 12.5 percent funding cut is not certain, but it would be the result if legislators don’t accept the state budget Gov. Pat Quinn proposed during a Wednesday speech. Quinn recommended the continuation of an income tax increase to avoid such cuts in a Wednesday budget speech, but the university can’t wait on a final decision as it develops its FY2015 budget. Quinn’s proposed budget–which would include the increased income tax–would allocate NIU $93,384,000 for FY2015; if the tax does not continue, he proposed NIU be allocated about $81,782,000.

“We look forward to continuing our work with the governor and the legislature to support our students, faculty, staff and stakeholders as the budget is being developed; on campus, however, we can’t wait for a resolution on these and other issues in developing the university’s FY2015 budget,” wrote NIU President Doug Baker in his bi-weekly Baker Report.

Cuts at NIU, if necessary, will be made based on institutional priorities, said NIU spokesman Paul Palian.

The potential cut was not unexpected: NIU has discussed such a possibility at recent Bold Futures Workshops, where community members gather to submit and give feedback on ideas to change the university. In his report, Baker wrote that on March 21 he a delegation from NIU were asked to describe to House and Senate appropriations committee members what would be the impact of a potential 12.5 percent or 20 percent budget cut.

“In our Bold Futures Workshops the university looked at the very real possibility of a budget cut,” Palian said.

NIU was allocated $93,470,000 in FY 2013 and $93,412,000 in FY2014.