BASEBALL looks to increase its nation-leading winning streak to 18 Tuesday against Southern Illinois PAGE 1B
THE DAILY ILLINI
TUESDAY April 28, 2015
5he independent student newspaper at the University of Illinois since 1871
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Vol. 144 Issue 114
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Illinois could see changes in state purchasing process
Personal pop on the Quad
BY CAELI CLEARY
What is procurement?
STAFF WRITER
OLIVIA GODNIK THE DAILY ILLINI
Students receive free Coke products customized with their names on the Main Quad on Monday.
Procurement is how Illinois public universities purchase goods and services for academic, research and public service programs.
In the face of Gov. Bruce Rauner’s proposed budget cuts, University and state officials are searching for new ways to cut costs. State Sen. Chapin Rose, R-51, introduced new legislation to change the way the Illinois government makes purchases, otherwise known as the sclerotic procurement process. Procurement is how universities purchase goods and services for academic, research and public service programs as well as for maintenance, housing, dining halls and bookstore operations. According to the Illinois Higher Education Procurement Bulletin, universities typically purchase scientific and medical equipment, classroom and office supplies, chemicals, building construction and repair, maintenance services and professional services.
Universities follow the procurement process to purchase goods and services for maintenance, student housing and dining halls operations. Universities typically purchase scientific and medical equipment, classroom and office supplies, chemicals, construction, repairs, services and professional services . SOURCE: ILLINOIS PUBLIC HIGHER EDUCATION PROCUREMENT BULLETIN
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Committee recommends maintaining 2015 budget BY MAGGIE SULLIVAN STAFF WRITER
Gov. Bruce Rauner’s proposal to cut 31.5 percent of state appropriations to the University is still on the table, but the University’s operating budget is a little closer to being finalized. The Board of Trustees Audit, Budget, Finance and Facilities Committee met Monday and decided it will recommend maintaining the University’s current operating budget for the upcoming fiscal year 2016 at the May 7 Board of Trustees meeting. “We really don’t know how the budget process will go,” said Edward McMillan,
committee and Board chairman. “We hope that it will get resolved by the end of May, but we’re not sure that’s going to happen.” The Board of Trustees requires the University to submit a preliminary operating budget before the start of the new fiscal year, which begins July 1, even though state appropriations for the University have not been determined. The University’s total operating budget for fiscal year 2015 was $5.6 billion, according to the Fiscal Year 2015 Annual Operating Budget Executive Summary. The committee will recom-
mend maintaining the same budget until state appropriations are finalized and revisit it when more budget information is available. Walter Knorr, vice president and chief financial officer, said this approach is consistent with past years when state appropriations were not yet finalized. “The approach that Walter Knorr is proposing is the responsible approach at this point,” McMillan said. Knorr said he hopes there will be a final budget to go to the trustees for approval by their September meeting.
mesulli2@dailyillini.com
Committee proposes higher budget for Everitt renovations If approved, $5M will be added to project’s budget BY MAGGIE SULLIVAN STAFF WRITER
The University Board of Trustees Audit, Budget, Finance and Facilities committee recommended increasing the budget for renovations of the Everitt Laboratory Monday. “The project goal is to provide the best experience in interdisciplinary biomedical engineering at graduate and undergraduate levels,” said Geoffrey Lisle, representative for BSA Life Structures, the company completing the renovations. The original budget for the laboratory renovation, which was approved by the Board of Trustees in March 2014, was $50 million. However, Lisle said the project requires a $5 million budget increase to fulfill its mission.
Everitt Laboratory Renovations
Will cost about $55 million Renovations by BSA Life Structures Q Being renovated to expand on flexible and traditional classroom spaces Q Set to be completed by June 2018 Q Q
The renovation will have a strong focus on classroom spaces with “flexible” layouts, Lisle said. He said he hopes the new classrooms will foster an active learning environment, but can also accommodate a traditional learning style, depending on what the professor chooses. “This really is a combined graduate and undergraduate education for the future,” Lisle said. He said the project should be completed by June 2018. The Committee also recommended naming the University’s newest residence hall Wassaja Hall. If approved, the hall, which
will begin housing students in Fall 2016, would be named in honor of Carlos Montezuma, the first Native American student to graduate from the University. Wassaja, Montezuma’s birth name, means, “to beckon” in his native language, said Edward McMillan, chair of the committee and Board of Trustees. McMillan said Chancellor Phyllis Wise and her auxiliaries are supportive of the name, and the recommendation goes along with the administration’s plans to name more buildings after iconic alumni.
mesulli2@dailyillini.com
MADISON JOHNSTON THE DAILY ILLINI
Champaign-Urbana residents talk about transportation concerns with state representatives.
Illinois officials encourage infrastructure investment State officials want Illinois to invest in more transportation infrastructure, despite budget cuts. The Illinois Infrastructure Listening Tour began Monday with a meeting hosted by the Champaign Chamber of Commerce. They discussed the Champaign area’s main concerns for the future of its transportation system and potential areas of investment for infrastructure. Illinois Transportation Secretary Randy Blankenhorn is conducting a series of discussions in various parts of the state. He hopes the discussions will
lead to a package of recommendations to be presented to Gov. Bruce Rauner and the Illinois General Assembly for consideration in the spring, according to the Illinois Department of Transportation. The tour will visit 28 cities in Illinois and encourage audience suggestions to better cater to each community’s needs. “We are calling it a listening tour for a reason. We are traveling the state discussing needs, discussing issues, discussing what matters to you,” Blankenhorn said. “We think about how infrastructure makes a difference in your community, makes a difference in our economy,
makes a difference in business and makes a difference in the lives of the people we represent.” Blankenhorn facilitated the discussion between a panel of state and University representatives. The panel included state Sen. Scott Bennett, D-52, Rep. Adam Brown, R-102, Rep. Chad Hays, R-104, Associate Chancellor Mike DeLorenzo, and Clark Deitz, Inc. Executive Vice President Chip Craddock. During the discussion, Brown said he is concerned about Rauner’s proposal to decrease Amtrak funding by 40 percent, or $16 mil-
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