[{"_1":2,"_88":-5,"_89":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,76],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},"mediaId",6496088,"mediaKeyId","5784403-90f82a4d3de395fbe7900ba7efe005ea","parentId",5784403,"title","SIU trustees approve FY26 operating budget, salary plan, bond and multi‑year contract extensions","audioSeconds",710,"startMs",1376000,"endMs",2086000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=5784403-90f82a4d3de395fbe7900ba7efe005ea&start=1376&end=2086","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5784403-90f82a4d3de395fbe7900ba7efe005ea/thumbnail_1376000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6496088/Illinois/SIU-trustees-approve-FY26-operating-budget-salary-plan-bond-and-multiyear-contract-extensions","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6496088-dfefdeb7dd9a6cbc60feb4b7dc630659/orig.mp4?Expires=1770573540&Signature=MY2MM475Y0k8Soujl-WCDKGZldBT9WugwBA-62AKBY3877qNMDrIDyJil~W9l1umh6HaolUPqIRVIUvOS3WSThtx~KFQeCBF0ULanpFSS7qtIHbHXqjOgtyoc77N0rQF9tGLQylbiazCehwBaNo7yRjoloO0CSnCeIiaE8Xa1leLhlhbu5NerC1DGvpVQLO8HdJGvcYy5hwXji1W2zMr4S4LSjUapd-hEqTdvtvR5ULkls32e~QerMj3t9bxvyortixstSSamErPQz8rY5nkx9rpbGag5mF449uFSZf97inCWY17QDx-neJwFnbQXwk~4GYoR0S80c-UwjcbNWUIxw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Southern Illinois University Board of Trustees","date","2025-09-19T05:10:22Z","article","Southern Illinois University Board of Trustees committee members approved the system's proposed fiscal 2026 operating budget and a slate of related financial and personnel measures at meetings held before the full board convened Oct. 25.

The finance committee voted to recommend the operating budget to the full board. President Dan Mahoney and university finance staff told trustees the proposal reflects recent discussions on enrollment and state support; trustees approved the item on a committee roll call. \"We recommend approval,\" Mahoney said during the finance committee discussion.

Why it matters: the operating budget guides campus spending next year and was considered together with personnel and capital requests that affect pay, insurance and campus projects. Committee approvals advance the items to the board omnibus motion that carried the measures into effect for the system.

Most important committee actions

- The finance committee approved the fiscal year 2026 operating budget on a roll call that recorded Curtis: yes; Barnett: yes; Connelly: yes; Williams: yes.

- The committee approved the appointment of Justin Oates as SIU system vice president for financial and administrative affairs and board treasurer; the committee roll call recorded Curtis: yes; Barnett: yes; Connelly: yes; Williams: yes.

- Trustees approved a $5,000,000 public official bond for the board treasurer, per the Southern Illinois University Management Act; committee roll call recorded Curtis: yes; Barnett: yes; Connelly: yes; Williams: yes.

- The salary increase plan for FY26 was approved by the finance committee. The plan presented and approved in committee included a 1% increase for certain university employees and a 2.5% increase for civil service employees, as explained by vice president Justin Oates. Committee roll call recorded Curtis: yes; Barnett: yes; Connelly: yes; Williams: yes.

- The Resource Allocation and Management Program (RAMP) operations and capital requests for FY27 were approved jointly by the finance committee and the architectural and design committee. Finance committee roll call: Curtis: yes; Barnett: yes; Connelly: yes; Williams: yes. Architecture & Design committee roll call: Simmons: yes; Barnett: yes; Connelly: yes; Curtis: yes.

- The finance committee approved a commercial lease for approximately 25,000 square feet at the Jackie Joyner‑Kersee Foundation Center in East St. Louis to house one SIUE Head Start/Early Head Start program. The agenda packet listed the lease as a 10‑year agreement with a total cost indicated at $2,700,000 and said the funding source is the federal grant that supports Head Start operations. Committee roll call recorded Curtis: yes; Barnett: yes; Connelly: yes; Williams: yes.

- The committee approved a request to sublease excess broadband capacity from station WLX262; an outside law firm estimated the value in a broad range of about $1 million to $1.5 million. Committee roll call recorded Curtis: yes; Barnett: yes; Connelly: yes; Williams: yes.

- The finance committee approved four‑year extensions of the employment agreements for Chancellor Lane (SIU Carbondale), Chancellor Minor (SIUE) and President Mahoney (SIU system); each extension was approved on committee roll calls that recorded Curtis: yes; Barnett: yes; Connelly: yes; Williams: yes.

What trustees said and asked

President Mahoney briefly reviewed the budget and fielded questions at the committee. \"We presented the proposed budget as well as how it compares and changes from last year,\" he told the committee. Vice President Justin Oates summarized the salary package and noted that salaries are the largest part of expense budgets, and that the plan presented included measures to address compression on one campus.

Oates: \"Salaries are ... 55% of your expense budget, and we're presenting 1% for [some employees] and 2.5% for the civil service employees.\"

Board process and next steps

Most committee items were included in the board's omnibus motion and carried on a full‑board roll call later in the meeting. The board takes formal action on committee recommendations at full meetings; trustees declared the omnibus motion approved at the Oct. 25 full board session.

Votes at a glance

- FY26 operating budget — approved by finance committee (Curtis/Barnett/Connelly/Williams: yes).
- Appointment: system vice president for financial & administrative affairs (Justin Oates) — approved by finance committee (Curtis/Barnett/Connelly/Williams: yes).
- Public official bond, treasurer — approved by finance committee (Curtis/Barnett/Connelly/Williams: yes).
- Salary increase plan FY26 (1% / 2.5% civil service) — approved by finance committee (Curtis/Barnett/Connelly/Williams: yes).
- RAMP operations & capital request FY27 — approved by finance committee and Architecture & Design committee (finance: Curtis/Barnett/Connelly/Williams: yes; A&D: Simmons/Barnett/Connelly/Curtis: yes).
- SIUE Head Start lease (approx. 25,000 sq ft; total cost listed $2,700,000; federal grant funded) — approved by finance committee (Curtis/Barnett/Connelly/Williams: yes).
- Excess broadband sublease from WLX262 (value estimate $1M–$1.5M) — approved by finance committee (Curtis/Barnett/Connelly/Williams: yes).
- Extension of Chancellor Lane's employment agreement (4 years, maximum allowable under state law) — approved by finance committee (Curtis/Barnett/Connelly/Williams: yes).
- Extension of Chancellor Minor's employment agreement (4 years) — approved by finance committee (Curtis/Barnett/Connelly/Williams: yes).
- Extension of President Mahoney's employment agreement (4 years) — approved by finance committee (Curtis/Barnett/Connelly/Williams: yes).

Clarifying details

- Public official bond recommended amount: $5,000,000 (presented as required by the Southern Illinois University Management Act).
- SIUE building lease described in the committee packet as 10 years, approximately 25,000 square feet, total cost stated as $2,700,000; funding source listed as the federal Head Start grant.
- Outside legal estimate of excess broadband value: stated in the packet as approximately $1,000,000 to $1,500,000.
- Salary increases presented in committee: 1% for some university employees and 2.5% for civil service employees; campus compression adjustments from a CBIZ compensation study were included for some staff.

Speakers (selected)

- Daniel Mahoney, President, Southern Illinois University (spoke to the budget and extensions).
- Justin Oates, Vice President for Financial & Administrative Affairs (presented salary and RAMP details).
- Chair/Committee members present during votes: Trustee Curtis (chair, finance committee); Trustee Barnett; Trustee Connelly; Trustee Williams; Trustee Simmons (Architecture & Design committee).

Authorities cited

- Southern Illinois University Management Act (referenced by university staff in relation to the treasurer bond requirement).
- CBIZ compensation study (referenced by university staff as the basis for some compression adjustments).

Provenance

transcript_segments: [{\"block_id\":\"s=3666.2349-e=3680.015\",\"local_start\":0,\"local_end\":96,\"evidence_excerpt\":\"The first item on the agenda is the approval of the fiscal year 20 26 operating budget. President Mahoney, will you speak to this item?\\nYes. Yesterday, we presented at the board meeting a review of the proposed budget as well as how it compares and and changes from last year. We answered questions at that time, but happy to answer any additional questions, but we recommend approval.\"},{\"block_id\":\"s=4497.7803-e=4507.875\",\"local_start\":0,\"local_end\":94,\"evidence_excerpt\":\"So I recommend, to the finance committee of the contract extension for president Mahoning.\\n\\nThank you, mister chair. Any discussion? Hearing none, is there a motion by the for the finance committee to approve said motion?\\nSo moved. Second.\"}]

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Why it matters: civil service employees keep many daily university operations running; their pay and retention affect student services, billing, payroll and research administration. Multiple speakers told trustees that modest percentage increases have not kept pace with inflation and rising insurance costs.

What speakers said

Terry Richardson, president of the Association of Civil Service Employees (ACSE) at SIU Carbondale, told trustees that more than half of ACSE members are eligible for SNAP benefits and that many members need a second job. \"That, to me, looks like it's placing the blame on the employees rather than the employer for simply not paying enough,\" Richardson said. He told trustees that previously approved administrative bonuses—though funded via the foundation, not the operating budget—create frustration among rank‑and‑file staff.

Kathy Lilly, ACSE secretary and a member of the bargaining team, described a career spanning decades at SIU and said returning retirees and long‑time employees are not being rewarded for institutional knowledge. Lilly said negotiators delayed salary talks pending a compensation study and that the administration's counterproposal spreadsheets contained errors. \"These errors were brought to our attention to our team,\" she said, and urged campus leaders to meet with bargaining teams between sessions.

Rhonda Radford, an ACSE representative and Carbondale accountant, cited U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics figures referenced in her remarks and said local price increases for food, utilities and medical care are straining staff. She said the average ACSE employee carries long tenures (about 11.9 years on average) but the university has seen turnover due to inadequate wages.

Other speakers included admissions and advising staff who described high workloads, service responsibilities to students and families, and the need for stability to retain student‑facing employees. Chris Ortolano, a Navy veteran who works in admissions processing, urged the board to provide \"stability\" for staff and students; academic advisors said recruitment and retention of advising staff is at a crisis point.

Board response and next steps

Trustees allotted three minutes per speaker in the full meeting's public comment slot to allow eleven speakers to be heard within the timeframe. Trustees did not take any immediate votes in response to the public comments; the remarks were recorded in the meeting record and will accompany the meeting packet.

Speakers (selected)

- Terry Richardson, President, Association of Civil Service Employees (ACSE), SIU Carbondale (public comment)
- Kathy Lilly, ACSE secretary and bargaining team member (public comment)
- Rhonda Radford, ACSE representative, accountant, SIU Carbondale (public comment)
- Chris Ortolano, Admissions Processing & Decisions (public comment)
- Matt Sronkowski, Academic Advisor, SIU Carbondale (public comment)

Clarifying details

- ACSE members' average tenure reported in public comment: 11.9 years (speaker statement). Speakers cited inflation measures and specific price upticks for food, housing and utilities noted from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics; trustees were not asked to vote on a specific compensation proposal during the meeting.

Proper names

- Association of Civil Service Employees (ACSE)
- Southern Illinois University Carbondale

Provenance

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Article not found

SIU trustees approve FY26 operating budget, salary plan, bond and multi‑year contract extensions

Civil service employees urge trustees for larger raises, cite rising costs and morale problems