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MACOMB, ILL. -- "We're trying to conserve every dollar we can on campus," said WIU President Al Goldfarb.

Western Illinois University is stretching every dime hoping to not come up short. WIU relies on the state for $59.6 million dollars, that's about half of its operating budget. The remaining $64 million dollars comes from tuition and miscellaneous income. Goldfarb says the money from the state is critical, because *that* money pays faculty and staff.

Because the state's behind $27 million dollars, the school is dipping into other funding needed for other projects, which now have to wait.

"This is a difficult cash flow situation right now. The state of Illinois appropriated a budget at the beginning of the year. But just like the rest of the state, there's a major cash flow problem for all of the major universities," Goldfarb said.

Because of the cash flow situation, the university is forced to watch its expenses very carefully to make sure faculty and staff get paid every week. President Goldfarb even sent a letter to the campus updating them on changes that have to be made to curtail spending, including a hiring freeze during the Spring semester. Positions will only be replaced if approved by the President and Vice President of the University. Staff is also asked to cut back on traveling and spending.

Next year's budget may be even smaller, without federal stimulus dollars and if state payments are still behind, there could be a possibility of a tuition hike.

"We'll have to review the budget next year for issues for tuition and fees," Goldfarb said.

Goldfarb tells KHQA he hopes to continue to keep costs as low as possible.  By the way, the state did pay the university $12.9 million dollars for the month of January.