After nearly an entire semester of bare bones bank accounts, Southern Illinois University received $15.5 million Nov. 24 from the state comptroller’s office in a belated appropriation payment to help make December payroll.

Illinois still owes SIU alone about $113 million for this fiscal year, according to Carol Knowles, the spokeswoman for Comptroller Dan Hynes. The state of Illinois has announced plans to allocate $743 million to campuses of the Illinois University system.

Many campuses in the system are now uncertain whether they can make payroll next month.

“We are in frequent communication and are continuing to work with SIU and all of the other universities to address their funding issues,” Knowles said.

Similar situations are occurring within other campuses of the UI system, with Western Illinois University owed roughly $32.3 million, Northern Illinois University owed $58 million, Illinois State expecting more than $46 million, and Eastern Illinois University is owed more than $22 million.

SIU President Glenn Poshard said the University is facing a $16.5 million gap in funding to meet Jan. 1 payroll obligations. Without additional appropriation payments from the state within the next two to three weeks, Poshard said the university could face furloughs and layoffs.


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