Balancing Eastern’s budget, with its approximately $3 million cut in state funding for next year, is even more difficult because of the rising cost of state-mandated programs and initiatives.

“We have to have a balanced budget,” said President Bill Perry. “The state doesn’t have a balanced budget. The federal government doesn’t have a balanced budget, but we have to.”

The total amount of mandated programs that were unfunded or not fully funded by the state climbed from $3.36 million in fiscal year 2004 to $6.25 million in fiscal year 2009.

An additional $530,000 will be added to that total next year in the form of four new positions, which will also require office space and staff.

“We’re working hard here to be good stewards and cut more costs,” Perry said. “In the situation we’re in, it’s like we go one step forward and we’re pushed one step back.”

The veteran’s coordinator position was supposed to be a full-time position starting July 1, 2009, but it has been filled by a current employee this year.

Paul McCann, treasurer and director of business services, said the qualifications and experience required for the position would call for a salary of around $70,000. When the office space and other benefits are factored in, McCann said it will cost the university about $100,000 a year.

“We felt like it really isn’t something you can do on top of regular duties so we need to hire someone,” McCann said. “There needs to be more time spent with those folks, and they need help getting through the maze of their financial obligations.”

Both state and federal veterans programs grant tuition waivers. The federal government reimburses the university for waived tuition, but Illinois does not reimburse the university, Perry said.

“It’s jumping for everyone because a lot of veterans are coming back from the Middle East with more awareness and possibly more desire to attend,” Perry said. “State support has not kept up with the cost.”

In addition to a veteran’s coordinator, new legislation mandates all state agencies pay for half the salary of a Chief Procurement Officer, who will be hired by an outside party and whose office will be in either Champaign-Urbana or Springfield. The salary will cost the university approximately $25,000 a year, and the office space needed for the position will bring the total to about $100,000.

The procurement officers will monitor purchasing at the university.

Two procurement compliance monitors, who will be on campus, will cost the university another $200,000 a year, McCann said.

“They have got to have an office,” he said. “They have to have supplies, and they are probably going to have to have an office helper.”

The Executive Ethics Commission, formed under Gov. Pat Quinn to combat the pay-to-play practices of Blagojevich’s administration and his predecessors, created the positions.

“The legislature thinks all the state agency’s are doing things wrong, so they want people watching everything we do,” McCann said. “These are all of the repercussions of the Blagojevich administration and people doing things wrong in Springfield.”

The university can only enter a contract with a vendor who has registered with the State Board of Elections. This has forced Eastern to not accept the lowest bid because unregistered vendors made them.

“Because of that, we’ve lost out on the low bid for some purchases to the tune of about $130,000,” McCann said.

Sarah Ruholl can be reached at 581-7942 or [email protected]