Budget Crisis Stalls Progress in Illinois

The ongoing budget impasse has been particularly difficult for Illinois’ institutions of higher education, which have received a mere fraction of their usual state funds. Community colleges depend on the state to supply 30 percent of their overall budget, but that formula has evaporated over the past two years.

John Avendano is the president of Kankakee Community College, but he’s also president of the Presidents Council — the group made up of all Illinois community college presidents. He spoke with our Education Desk reporter about the special challenges these schools face.

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