It’s not clear how Rauner’s executive order freezing state spending will affect operations at state universities. The three-page order covers all executive branch agencies, including the boards of state universities.
But U of I spokesman Tom Hardy says they’ll be taking a close look at the directive.
“We like to think that most everything we do has an essential quality to it. But we’re going to work with the governor’s office and our budget people here to get some clarity around the identification of essential versus non-essential spending.”
It halts out-of-state travel and freezes new, renewed or amended state contracts and grants for the remainder of the fiscal year. Exceptions are made for contracts under 50-thousand dollars, and those considered emergency, essential or legally mandated.