By Jonathan Samples | Bugle Staff
nweditor@buglenewspapers.com
@DownersGrvBugle
State lawmakers have reached an agreement on a $600 million stopgap measure to fund public universities and community colleges throughout the state.
Gov. Bruce Rauner signed Senate Bill 2059 into law Monday – three days after the bipartisan legislation passed both the House and Senate.
The bill allocates $356 million to nine public universities and $74 million to the state’s 48 community colleges. Additionally, SB 2059 provides $169 million for Monetary Award Program grants.
“This unprecedented agreement among all four legislative caucuses and the governor is a big step toward ensuring Illinois higher education continues uninterrupted, benefiting students, their families, employees of public and private colleges and universities, college towns, and ultimately the future of our state,” Sen. Pat McGuire, D-Joliet, said in a statement.
The office of the governor applauded the legislation, as well.
Press Secretary Catherine Kelly said the bipartisan agreement shows that both chambers were able to put aside political differences in order to offer emergency assistance to universities and community colleges, as well as low-income college students.
“We are hopeful the General Assembly will build on this bipartisan momentum in the weeks ahead as we negotiate a balanced budget with reform for fiscal years 2016 and 2017,” she added.
State Comptroller Leslie Munger said the $600 million in funding will come from the state’s Education Assistance Fund.
“Those dollars will allow us to immediately pay student MAP grants and work closely with our universities and community colleges to ensure they have the resources they need to avoid further cuts and closings,” she said in a statement. “We will continue disbursing funds as they become available, with final payments being made in July.”
Munger said she has directed her staff to begin processing payments immediately, adding that top priority would be given to students and institutions most in need.
State Sen. Jennifer Bertino-Tarrant, D-Shorewood, said she is happy and relieved that lawmakers approved higher education funding, but added that more work still needs to be done.
“I want to see a long-term solution that ensures students in my district don’t have to live in fear of their education being threatened by the dysfunction in Springfield,” she said. “It’s also imperative that human services agencies get the funding they need to keep their doors open.”