DeKALB | The proposed statewide minimum wage increase will likely have an impact on student jobs and officials are working toward a solution.

The increase, which Gov. Rod Blagojevich will likely sign, will raise the minimum wage from $6.50 to $7.50. The increase is expected to take effect July 1, 2007.

In the past, increases have not been a problem for NIU, reflecting the sentiments of NIU President John Peters. But now, the increase is more than NIU’s current minimum wage for student workers.

“Previously, the state raised the minimum wage and we were able to accommodate it because most individuals were above the minimum wage,” Peters said. “There are no provisions to increase the budget to accommodate this.”

The increased cost will be to the tune of $1 million and will affect the budgets of the dining and the university services departments, which are mostly made up of student employees, President Peters said. To counteract the wage increase, administrators are considering hiring fewer students and cutting the hours they work.

“If we don’t find a way to accommodate this, student jobs will be affected,” Peters said. “We’ll have $1 million less to hire students, and that is really something that I do not want to see happen.”

Peters, however, is not opposed to the increase. Some students feel the same way.

“I would enjoy it a lot,” said sophomore communication major Amanda Stevens.

Depending on a student’s current situation, there are a number of ways they can deal with the potential problems.

“It doesn’t really affect me, because I’m still in the dorms,” Stevens, who works in the University Bookstore, said. “I’m planning on getting an outside job when I get an apartment.”

Some students are happy with the increase, but unsatisfied with how the situation could play out. If jobs are cut, some students will have to find other ways to pay for school.

“I’m happy it’s increasing, but it’s unfair that jobs could be cut because some people really do need money more than others,” said sophomore pre-med major Junelle Bennett.

The increase is still months away from happening, and the university is in the process of figuring out a solution.

“We’re working on it and will do everything we can to not reduce the number of student workers,” Peters said. “We have no ideas yet, but hopefully we’ll get a good budget from our governor.”