The budget cuts facing the City Colleges of Chicago can have an adverse effect in the successfulness of school clubs and other activities.
According to Eric Zorn, a contact reporter of the Chicago Tribune, the Illinois Policy Institute is arguing that the state’s budget crisis can be fixed without raising taxes if state worker’s wages are diminished, as well as benefits and pension programs. Their proposal also includes cutting funding from higher education and eliminating Medicaid.
According to the Fiscal Year (FY) 2017 Tentative Annual Operating Budget Book, the state will fail to meet funding for a second year. In 2016, the FY told city colleges to expect 59.9 million from the Illinois Community College Board, but was only given 14.4 million.
It is also stated that the FY2017 is forecasted to give $55.8 million which is a reduction from what was expected from last year.
It is because of the state’s budget issues that there have been some changes in Wright’s ability to provide funding for student activities or clubs; things that bring Wright College students together.
“The budget crisis is affecting student activities because clubs aren’t able to hold events with the resources they are given while trying to make a club successful,” said President of Student Government Jocelyn Ramirez when being asked what effect budget cuts are having on student activities.
With the grim outlook for the budget of higher education in Chicago, the effects of the lack of resources for student-led activities will soon be seen.