Cuts, deferred maintenance to help NIU shore up budget Cuts, deferred maintenance to help NIU shore up budget - DREW ZIMMERMAN, Daily Chronicle

Cuts and deferred maintenance at Northern Illinois University will be necessary to keep reserves adequate, President Doug Baker said. Without a state budget, Baker has said the university is facing a projected $35 million funding gap, and must prepare for a worst-case scenario until the next fiscal year – lack of funding and no Monetary Award Program grants, which about 5,000 students rely on. Baker said in an email April 28 that to offset lack of funding, spending reductions must be made – including cuts. He added that attrition will not be enough to support the burden of personnel costs, and some staff members have been notified about how their employment may be affected, while others will hear about the status of their jobs this month. Baker said other keys to closing the gap will be increased support from donors and other revenue generators. http://www.daily-chronicle.com/2017/04/28/cuts-deferred-maintenance-to-help-niu-shore-up-budget/avaxsqv/