By Angela Hatton
Springfield, IL – Illinois Governor Pat Quinn signed legislation today that allows public universities to borrow money to cover expenses during the state budget crisis. Bill advocate Southern Illinois University President Glenn Poshard says that without this borrowing power, his school might not be able to cover its payroll this summer. The fiscal year ends in less than a month, and officials say the state has paid universities only half of the money promised for the year. State government still owes them about 700 million dollars. Universities will have to repay the loan in a year or within 10 days of the state paying its bills. Poshard says he doesn't expect the state funding until December or later.