Though an SIUC spokesman said the university’s spending freeze is flexible enough to allow some purchases, managers of Carbondale businesses who provide the university with various products say it will affect the city’s entire economy.
SIU President Glenn Poshard sent a message to faculty and staff Nov. 10 announcing a freeze on most non-salary expenditures to curb the effects of the state’s inability to make its monthly appropriation payments.
“It will definitely have a negative impact,” said Dan Buechsenschuetz, manager of the Murdale True Value, which often provides the university with cleaning supplies and small appliances.
Though his business doesn’t rely on the university, SIUC is an important client, Buechsenschuetz said.
Randy Johnson, manager of 710 Bookstore, which provides the university with everything from computers to art supplies, said his business hasn’t seen the effect of the freeze yet but anticipates it to be negative.
“We really don’t adjust to stuff like that,” Johnson said. “These things come and go in their cycles, and we just try to work through them as best we can … it’s not really a local decision that’s causing this.”
Though city officials say it’s too early to tell exactly what the effects of the spending freeze will be, they too have concerns.
City Manager Allen Gill said the university might still purchase goods it needs from local businesses.
“What I’m more concerned about is if they don’t pay their bills, then were going to have local businesses that could end up with cash flow problems,” Gill said.
Though the state could come up with the money at any moment and start spending with local businesses again, the immediate effect will not be good, city councilman Chris Wissmann said.
University spokesman Rod Sievers said the university still has money available, but officials are taking a close look at any expenses.
The university will not stop its recruiting efforts, he said.
“If something needs to be done, we’re going to spend money on it,” Sievers said. “It’s a cash-flow problem, not a budget problem.”
Nick Johnson can be reached at nickj39@siu.edu or 536-3311 ext. 263
