Sent: 2009-09-01
From: President Bill Perry
To: Students, Employees
Subject: Budget Message from President Bill Perry
Members of the Campus Community:
Our academic year is off to a great start. Our enrollment is stable and the quality of our programs and services continues to grow. In my conversations with parents and students, they have focused on the positive experience they are having at EIU. Hundreds of faculty, staff, administration, and students worked tirelessly to ensure a smooth opening and I offer my thanks to all who contributed.
The media have made us all aware of the budget situation which exists in the state of Illinois. Several people have asked me about EIU's budget status. Since summer, our budget status has come into clearer focus. Therefore, it is time to provide the campus an update.
Our state funds for Fiscal Year 2010 (that is, July 1, 2009 through June 30, 2010) remain at essentially the same level as for Fiscal Year 2009. This means that the dollars we receive from the state (our Fiscal Year 2010 general funds) for operations total $ 50,566,500. This is, of course, good news. However, 5.85% of the dollars which the state provides to support EIU's operations comes from federal stimulus funds.
Looking to the future, Fiscal Year 2011 and beyond, it is important to plan and prepare for the possibility of the loss of stimulus funds and an associated drop in total state funding. This impact could be alleviated if state revenues improve (due to economic recovery or other
means) to allow replacement of the loss of stimulus funds. Because of this potential loss, we are continuing in Fiscal Year 2010 our conservative postures on budgeting and expenditures, established in Fiscal Year 2009:
* Only vacancies critical to accomplishing our mission will be filled.
* Operational expenditures will be made conservatively.
* We will continue to seek cost savings.
Additional measures might need to be taken, depending upon circumstances. As the year progresses, I will continue to work with the Council on University Planning and Budget and keep the campus informed of budget issues and plans.
For many years EIU's faculty and staff have upheld the excellence and accessibility of an Eastern education in varied fiscal circumstances.
Working together we will continue that tradition, in changing budget environments. Thank you for all you have done and continue to do to advance EIU.
Bill Perry
President
