SPRINGFIELD, Ill. (AP) – Colleges and universities are again deciding whether to front grant money to low-income students who are supposed to be receiving state aid as Illinois’ budget remains uncertain.

The Southern Illinoisan reports a survey recently released by the Illinois Student Assistance Commission suggests some schools that covered grants in the fall aren’t guaranteeing to this spring. The commission administers the grants through the Monetary Award Program.

Fifty-three percent of the 96 colleges and universities that responded to the survey said they’d guarantee money for the spring semester, down from 60 percent in the fall. More than 35 schools eligible to receive the grants didn’t respond to the survey.

State lawmakers included money to finish paying off last year’s grants in a stopgap spending plan to fund state operations through Dec. 31. No money was included for the current year.