Rauner's budget proposal 'concerning' state university presidents - Lindsey Salvatelli, NIU Northern Star

Illinois Gov. Bruce Rauner’s fiscal year 2019 budget included cuts to public schools’ pensions and health care expenses. During his Wednesday State of the Budget address, Rauner said pensions and employee group health expenses have grown, costing the state 25 cents per every dollar spent. Rauner’s four-year plan to cut pensions and health care for those in higher education, as well as public schools in the state, would be phased in at 25 percent increments per year. “These shifts will save the state $696 million this year,” Rauner said. The reduced spending could be used to eliminate Illinois’ $2 billion deficit without needing to enact new taxes, Rauner said. http://northernstar.info/news/rauner-s-budget-proposal-concerning-state-university-presidents/article_65f826ba-1508-11e8-81fe-2f5c43425216.html