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The State of Illinois owes the University of Illinois $317 million. So far, the University has received $400,000 this fiscal year.

Individual campuses are feeling the crunch, with some wondering if they will be able to make payroll for November. Southern Illinois University at Carbondale is owed $105 million; Western Illinois University is owed $26 million.

“You’re talking about the most dire forecast that you can imagine,” said SIUC President Glenn Poshard. Poshard said that the University received a check last weekend for a little more than $5 million, but that the money was for the Monetary Award Program—a student aid program recently reinstated by the state legislature after a big push from students.

Melanie Magara, Northern Illinois University’s Assistant Vice President for Public Affairs, said the university has not received any payments from the state since the start of the fiscal year on July 1.

State Comptroller Dan Hynes responded to the situation in a press release.

“This is a crisis unmatched historically, and the downward spiral is accelerating,” Hynes said. “By any quantifiable measure: the bills outstanding, the payment delays and overall borrowing — the fiscal situation has never been worse, especially so early in the fiscal year, and there’s no end in sight.”

More from the Daily Egyptian at Southern Illinois University at Carbondale