Governor Pat Quinn
(Springfield, IL) June 8, 2010. With Illinois unable to pay its bills, Governor Pat Quinn today signed a bill into law that allows Illinois’ public universities to borrow money in anticipation of already-authorized state funding.
“This legislation will give our public universities an important fiscal tool to manage through this unprecedented economic crisis,” said Quinn.
“We are committed to doing everything we can in Illinois to make sure our students receive the highest-quality education possible.”
Illinois’ local school districts are able to borrow money in anticipation of tax receipts, but public universities have not had that option until now.
The legislation, Senate Bill 642, allows state universities to borrow money equal to the amount of vouchers that have been submitted to the state but remain unpaid for fiscal year 2010.
The legislation, sponsored by State Senator William Haine (D-Alton) and State Rep. John Bradley (D-Marion), will allow universities to better manage their budgets and pay their bills while waiting for state funding.
And waiting. And waiting. And waiting.
Currently, the state is hundreds of millions of dollars behind in paying for vouchers submitted by universities.
“Its is regrettable that we are in this fiscal position with our public universities, but this university borrowing package will provide our institutions with the ability to make payrolls and keep essential operations going,” said State Senator Dave Luechtefeld (R-Okawville), one of the bill’s other sponsors.
“I hope that the Southern Illinois University system does not have to use this borrowing authority, but it does give the school a feeling of security.”
To borrow money under the new law, a university’s board of trustees must pass a resolution that outlines: the need to borrow money; the maximum amount to be borrowed; and the maximum amount of interest to be paid.
The legislation caps the interest a university can pay at 9 percent and requires that the borrowing take place within 90 days. All borrowing must be repaid within one year or less.
Additionally, all borrowing must be approved by the Comptroller. The universities must produce a detailed account of how the borrowed funds are being used within 15 days of the borrowing.
Universities allowed to borrow under the legislation include: the University of Illinois; Southern Illinois University; Chicago State University; Eastern Illinois University; Governors State University; Illinois State University; Northeastern Illinois University; Northern Illinois University; and Western Illinois University.
The new law takes effect immediately.
Let the borrowing begin.
Gov. Pat Quinn
Borrowing needs to be stopped before this state is bailed out by our federal government. China and Japan own the largest part of the federal deficit. What happens when these countries want their money and it can’t be paid back?
Gov. Quinn needs to balance the budget and set an example to the universites and school districts that he is responsible and others should follow suit.
Begin with the real waste that needs to be cut. It has been spend, spend, spend without being truthful to taxpayers. Stop unneccessary spending, cut the real waste and get budgets balanced. It really is simple math that lawmakers and administrators should have learned in elementary school.
Posted by Mary Lynn Fuller | June 8, 2010, 5:47 PMMary Lynn,
The simple math is this: if Quinn laid-off all 53,000 state employees, that would save only $3 billion–and the deficit is $13 billion out of a $25 billion state budget from local revenue. Eliminating “waste” does not even remotely scratch the problem.
Thanks for reading.
David Ormsby
Posted by David Ormsby | June 8, 2010, 5:53 PM