Parkland plans for 50 percent less state funds, institutes up to $2 million in cuts - Tom Kacich, News-Gazette

Parkland College President Tom Ramage said Thursday he is anticipating a 50 percent cut in state funding to the community college and has instituted $1.5 million to $2 million in budget cuts as a result. "This is the worst it's ever been, at least in the community college system's 50-year history. This is the worst budget year ever," said Ramage, who said he took the action after a recent meeting with Gov. Bruce Rauner. He said Rauner told higher education officials last week that he expected a resolution to the ongoing state budget impasse — Rauner vetoed nearly all of the Legislature's approved budget last summer and the state is operating without a budget — but not until January. "We asked him if the budget settlement would be retroactive to July 1," Ramage recounted. "He kinda smiled and said, 'I wouldn't plan on that.' http://www.news-gazette.com/news/local/2015-11-06/parkland-plans-50-percent-less-state-funds-institutes-2-million-cuts.html