Heartland Community College President Rob Widmer (WJBC file photo)

By Eric Stock 

NORMAL – Community college officials are breathing a sigh of relief after seeing Gov. Bruce Rauner's proposed budget.

Higher education would face steep cuts under the governor's plan, but he wants to keep community college funding intact. Heartland Community College President Rob Widmer told WJBC's Scott Laughlin, he was relieved to hear community college funding would remain the same. 

"(We are) encouraged to be starting at this point as opposed to where many of the other state-supported institutions and agencies are today," Widmer said. 

Widmer said it's become more difficult in recent years to rely on local property tax revenue. 

"Those increases are getting much less and less to the point of a year ago, we actually saw a decrease in our tax base," Widmer said. "That has turned again and it's slightly positive, but it's a very modest positive growth."

Heartland approved a two-percent tuition increase this week. 

Widmer said Heartland has a list of projects the school has had to delay because funding has been uncertain in recent years. 

Public schools would see a $300 million increase. 

PODCAST: Listen to Scott and Colleen's interview with Widmer on WJBC. 
Eric Stock can be reached at [email protected].