In a story from The Center Square, Rep. Jeff Keicher, R-Sycamore, explained why his bill, HB 5037, is critical to fixing Illinois’ university funding system, which has contributed to a growing backlog of costly deferred maintenance.
In a statement, Keicher said the funding system needs reform and that HB 5037 would help accomplish that by requiring a statewide review of how universities use taxpayer dollars. The review would then guide a 10-year plan to restructure higher education funding.
“We need to right-size our system and make sure taxpayer dollars are being spent wisely, not wasted. By prioritizing resources responsibly, we can help ensure students have access to safe and usable learning spaces,” Keicher said. “Illinois cannot afford to keep doing things the same way and expect a different result.”
This comes on the heels of a recent press conference where Rep. Keicher was joined by former State Representative Mark Batinick to discuss concerns about the long-term sustainability of Illinois’ public universities and highlight House Bill 5037. During the press conference, Keicher said Illinois cannot ignore the warning signs facing its higher education system. The press conference can be viewed below.