Illinois budget, higher ed battles roll on - Mark Fitton, INN

Illinois is in the seventh month of fiscal year 2016 without a budget. Meanwhile, the state is said to be spending on 90 percent of its annual obligations as it funds primary and secondary education and meets expenses incurred by way of debt service, continuing appropriations and court decrees. That spending — which does not include higher education nor many human services — is said to be running at a clip that would put Illinois $5 billion or more in the red for fiscal 2016 if nothing changes. The General Assembly next returns to Springfield on Feb. 10. http://ilnews.org/7532/budget-higher-ed-battles-roll-on/