A bill to increase funding for financially struggling Illinois colleges and universities cleared the state Senate Thursday. Lawmakers approved a bill of $454 million on a near unanimous vote.
The measure is now in the House. Last month, lawmakers used $600 million left over in an education fund to help colleges make it through the summer. The additional money lawmakers are considering would get higher education institutions to 60% of what would have been their current year funding levels.
Democrats who control the Legislature and Republican Governor Bruce Rauner have been unable to agree on a budget since July 1, and higher education institutions have been forced to lay off staff.
Lawmakers are proposing to get the money by not repaying various state funds they borrowed from.
