Poshard sounds off on the state budget

By: Luke McCormick

If the state wants to keep “any semblance of services to people,” it cannot avoid the question of a potential income tax or sales tax increase, SIU President Glenn Poshard said.

“They’re the only two major things that have any ability to raise the substantial kinds of funds that it’s going to take to keep services available and, what I think, reinvigorate the economy through a capital program,” he said.

But the problem now, with the state suffering the same problems of many in a worldwide economic recession, is that Gov. Rod Blagojevich said he would veto either choice.

The question now becomes whether the legislature has enough people to override veto, which they overwhelmingly have not in the past, Poshard said.

Although no one practical thinks government funding for universities will increase again anytime soon, there may be other options at the federal level, said Dave Gross, SIU government relations officer.

Gross said increasing financial aid for Pell Grants federally and MAP grants at the state level could indirectly offset the increase in costs of education for students and families.

President-elect Barack Obama has also talked much about increasing access to higher education, which could help SIU’s situation, Gross said.

“If we can get some help from the federal level for federal financial aid that would be a tremendous boost to our budget as well,” he said.

But at the state level, new revenue must be found, Gross said. This may be difficult with Blagojevich seeing an implementation of income or sales tax increases as a renege on campaign promises.

“If you’re going to preserve important services and programs, it’s going to take revenue,” he said. “That’s going to be something the legislature is going to have to deal with this year.”