To: All Faculty & All Academic Professionals & All Civil Service Staff
           <everybody@illinois.edu> 
    From: "Walter Knorr" <wknorr@uillinois.edu>

Reply-To: InfoSource@uillinois.edu
 Subject: MASSMAIL - 2008 State Budget Update

August 1, 2007

University of Illinois open despite budget impasse
CFO says business as usual on campuses

	URBANA--University of Illinois Vice President and Chief Financial 
Officer Walter Knorr said Wednesday that even without a state budget, the 
University remains open for business and all operations are expected to 
continue as usual for the immediate future.

	"The University understands that important decisions are being 
made in Springfield," said Knorr. "We are optimistic that a state budget 
resolution will be forthcoming soon. Meantime, it is business as usual 
across our three campuses and central administration as we prepare to 
begin the new academic year."

	The University has sufficient resources to sustain operations and 
payroll for the month of August, and the payroll and other essential bills 
will be paid, according to Knorr.

	On Tuesday, University of Illinois President B. Joseph White asked 
staff members in an email message to report to work as usual despite 
uncertainty about the state's budget situation. White expressed confidence 
that the state's leadership would reach resolution on a fiscal 2008 
budget. The state had been operating on a temporary one-month budget, 
which included higher education, since fiscal 2007 ended on June 30.

	Also on Tuesday, Illinois Governor Rod Blagojevich issued a 
statement to state employees asking for cooperation to avoid a shutdown in 
government services on August 1 by reporting to work. The letter, posted 
to the governor's website, also told employees that he wants to "make sure 
you are paid for the work that you do." The full text is available at:
http://www.illinois.gov/publicincludes/statehome/documents/GovernorLetterto
StateEmployees07312007.pdf

	A web page with links to current information about the budget 
situation has been developed for University of Illinois faculty and staff 
and the public. Budget developments may be monitored at 
http://www.uillinois.edu/our/news/2008Budget.cfm.

	The University of Illinois educates 70,000 students on campuses in 
Urbana-Champaign, Chicago and Springfield, and it has a total annual 
operating budget of about $3.6 billion.



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