Unlike previous budgets since 2001, the FY2007 state budget includes an increase in funding for higher education, with NIU receiving an additional $1.2 million.

According to the Illinois Board of Higher Education’s Web site, the budget, approved by the board in May, includes $1.3 billion in general fund spending for public universities — an increase of $26.7 million. This was designed by the IBHE and the Governor to partially fund faculty and staff salary increases, with an average increase of 2.2 percent when combined with institutional resources.

NIU’s share of the $1.3 billion amounts to 0.8 percent of the higher education budget, said Abby Chemers, associate director of budgeting and planning. The funds will be spent throughout the FY2007 fiscal year from July 1, 2006 through June 30, 2007. The appropriation for FY2007 is $103.2 million, she said. In FY2006 and FY2005, the appropriation was $102 million.

In addition to salary increases, according to the IBHE Web site, the budget also increased other areas of spending with $354 million for community colleges, $381.1 million for MAP funding and $1.35 million in a new nurse educator scholarship program. The budget will also increase operations of $1.3 million for the Illinois Mathematics and Science Academy and $252,000 for the University Center of Lake County.

On behalf of NIU, the state pays vendors for generally smaller expenditures and will reimburse the university for amounts paid, Chemers said. The funds pay for the operating expenses of the university, including salaries, utilities, commodities, telecommunications, computing, building maintenance and equipment, she said.

“Northern does a good job making sure that the state funds are used wisely,” Chemers said. “We have a complex and comprehensive budget process. Detailed budgets are created at the department level. The colleges, deans, vice presidents and the presidents have input. This process is designed to maximize efficiency in the use of the resources available. Throughout the year, all the budgets are monitored and needs are re-evaluated.”

Each year, NIU advocates increases for the university in the operating budget and capital funds, said Ken Zehnder, assistant director of external affairs. Though NIU received a 1.2 percent increase in funding for the operating budget, the slight increase did not make up for the previous years of budget cuts, he said. NIU hopes to receive future funds for remodeling, renovation and expansion of Stevens Hall and other projects on the Higher Education priority list.

“[The increase] really did not make up for the years that we had lost, both in purchasing power through inflation and the cuts that we received in the earlier years, but it is a step in the right direction,” Zehnder said. “It’s a recognition, finally, that the universities need added resources from the state.”

Like Zehnder, Chemers said this is a step in the right direction.

“While we are pleased with the increase in the budget and are hopeful it will continue to increase in future years, our state funding level is at the same level it was in 1999,” Chemers said. “The state is still recovering from the decline in the economy after 9/11.”

For more information on the FY2007 budget, visit the IBHE Web site at www.ibhe.state.il.us.