MACOMB, Ill. (AP) — Western Illinois University says the state’s budget crisis has forced the school to cut $20 million from its budget over the next two fiscal years and reduce the number of faculty and staff by 100.
The state hasn’t funded public universities for eight months because of the budget impasse and the Macomb-based school said Friday that if lawmakers don’t approve a budget, it will be difficult for the school to meet is payroll as soon as July.
The announcement came the same day that Chicago State University said it had sent letters to its 900 employees telling them that they could be laid off as a result of the crisis.
Western Illinois says there will be a hiring freeze and mandatory furloughs for all non-union employees beginning April 1.