Saluki Athletics, Policy Institute could hit SIUC budget chopping block

CARBONDALE, IL (KFVS) - Illinois Governor Bruce Rauner's

has leaders of the Southern Illinois University System frantically trying to find a way to cut more than $60 Million system wide.

Southern Illinois University Carbondale (SIUC) has asked 27 offices to cut $4.5 million from their budgets,

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These offices are considered non-essential to the University's core academic mission, University Spokeswoman Rae Goldsmith said.

“If there is a cut, we certainly hope it won't be of that magnitude. But, we have to be prepared. We can't be caught off guard," Goldsmith said.

Examples of offices that could see potential reductions are Career Services, the Counseling Center, and Economic Development.

Some of these offices have been asked to cut up to 50 percent.

“It's a real challenge for the University," Goldsmith said. “When the other sources of funding are limited, we have to look toward tuition if we're going to continue providing a quality education.”

Among the 27 offices asked to make cuts is

, that could see a potential budget reduction of $600,000 – The largest potential reduction of all 27 offices.

Executive Associate Athletic Director and Chief Financial Officer of Saluki Athletics, Mark Scally, said the first draft of the department's cuts included jobs.

“It kind of depends on the time frame of the cut,” Scally said. “There really aren't any easy answers to this.”

The Saluki Athletic Department's 2014 budget was $18.7 million, putting the proposed reduction at 3.2 percent.

Scally said the department has worked to conserve funds for things like recruiting trips by purchasing plane tickets weeks ahead of time or by driving to locations instead of flying.

“We're a small staff so a lot of our staff wind up doing double duty,” Scally said.

The Saluki Athletic Department generated $1.3 million in ticket revenue last year and the rest of its budget came from donations and student fees.

“We really believe that we are one of the most visible pieces [at the University],” Scally said. “We're probably not the most important but we're the most visible.”

Another office that could see a potential cut is the Paul Simon Public Policy Institute, widely known for its many published public opinion and perception polls.

Director of the Institute, David Yepsen, said the office could see a 50 percent reduction in state funding.

“These budget cuts if they were to happen would be devastating to us," Yepsen said. “There aren't many living organisms that you can cut in half and expect to see them survive.”

University leaders are considering multiple options including possible

SIU System President said the proposed cuts could mean a

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