Illinois Budget Stalemate Means Work Stops on NIU Building

The consequences of a lack of a budget in Springfield are beginning to show themselves in DeKalb.

According to The Daily Chronicle, construction has stopped on a $27.4 million classroom building at Northern Illinois University.

An NIU spokesman says the state's Capital Development Board is fully funding the project, but must now operate under an order from Gov. Rauner to halt all capital projects. That, of course, includes the Stevens Building on the campus of NIU.

The Daily Chronicle reports:

The university had been expecting to start using the new Stevenson Building in fall 2016. Hoey said it’s not clear yet if the work stoppage now will push back that time frame.

“What we do know is that the project was on schedule prior to it being shut down at the end of (last) month,” Hoey said. “Every day that it’s delayed, that (target date) becomes in jeopardy.”

The building was home to the schools' Department of Anthropology and School of Theater and Dance.