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Budget cut would have huge impact on Extension
By Michelle Koetters
mkoetters@pantagraph.com
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BLOOMINGTON — The University of Illinois Extension would lose half of its budget if Gov. Rod Blagojevich gets his way.

The exact impact of the proposed elimination of nearly $18 million in state funding on specific Extension programs and county fairs is not certain at this point. But the loss of money could create a trickle-down problem, effecting dollars the Extension program receives from other sources, too, said Gary Beaumont, a spokesman for the University of Illinois Extension.

“Clearly, this is going to have a big impact on Extensions,” Beaumont said. “Basically every program is going to be impacted.”

Extension jobs also are in danger, Beaumont said.

The governor has threatened to withhold the state’s contribution to Extension offices throughout Central Illinois and the state as he hopes to convince lawmakers to give him more money to spend in the budget.

The McLean County Extension’s annual budget is almost $1 million, said Don Meyer, McLean County Extension director. About half of that money comes from local sources, such as county property taxes and local grants, Meyer said.

Historically, the state matches that money, Meyer said. He’s experienced years when the state only provided 80 cents to 90 cents on each dollar, but never a complete cut like proposed now, he said.

Meyer and workers at other Central Illinois county Extension offices referred questions about the potential impact from any cuts to the University of Illinois, which oversees the Extension programs. The Extension will not know how much money each county office could lose until May 1, its deadline for having a plan to deal with the proposed loss, Beaumont said.

But, if realized, the governor’s decision would be devastating, Beaumont said.

A combination of state, federal and local government dollars pay for the Extension programs. But county offices could also lose federal grants that match state dollars, and counties may be less willing to contribute to the Extension budget if the state does not provide money, Beaumont said.

The organization also expects to lose 450 jobs, including professional, civil services and temporary staff, he said. That loss also would be half of the Extension’s total workforce of 900 people, he said.

The McLean County Extension has 12 full-time employees and about five to 10 part-time seasonal workers, Meyer said.

The governor’s plan would not cut funding for county fairs. But fair staffing could decrease, and county funds that would normally be earmarked to cover fair expenses may be at risk, Beaumont said.

In McLean County, the threatened state funds are not used for the fair. Instead, the Extension office typically receives $50,000 a year in other revenue from state and local sponsors to pay for prizes and costs associated with the youth exhibition portion of the fair. Meyer, though, is not certain about the status of that funding either.

The McLean County Farm Bureau is responsible for other parts of the fair, including the carnival, food and entertainment.

The Extension serves an estimated 2.5 million residents each year, including 280,000 youths in 4-H programs. While 1,200 children are involved in 50 4-H clubs in McLean County, the Extension is much more than agriculture.

The McLean County Extension also offers school activities, such as the third-grade chick-hatching program, Meyer said. The Extension also teaches students about careers and nutrition and food safety.

In addition, more than 100 adults are part of the Master Gardeners program, he said.

Take a look
Brian Lambert, Program Coordinator for Agriculture at the University of Illinois Extension, scratched his head while trying to figure out the layout for a straw maze he was building at the Interstate Center, Friday, October 26, 2007. (Pantagraph, David Proeber)
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Reader comments on this story - 7 total

Note: All views and opinions expressed in reader comments are solely those of the individual submitting the comment, and not those of the Pantagraph or its staff.

IlliniFan wrote on Apr 9, 2008 12:38 PM:

" An article posted on this site yesterday, implied that the proposal regarding the recall had passed in the House. Sadly, Emil Jones decides what legislation the Senate will hear. Even if it's heard, (which I doubt) the article suggested that there was not a great deal of support for this in the Senate.....

"

N595 wrote on Apr 9, 2008 12:36 PM:

" Let me get this right. Tech jobs in the State of Illinois are being outsourced to India. Manufacturing jobs are being oursourced to Mexico and China. A lot of middle class jobs are leaving the state. Phrama is seeing major hits against their profits. Banking is down. The one industry that has seen a surge in profits in this bad economy is farming. Corn prices are at their highs. Why is the state making cuts in the one industry that is booming. It would seem like the state should be pumping more money into these programs. They certainly haven't done much to keep jobs in other sectors. This is coming from someone who lives North of I-80. "

noogie wrote on Apr 9, 2008 11:57 AM:

" When is the Illinois legislature going to wake up and impeach this guy? Contact your local representative and demand it! "

farmgirl2 wrote on Apr 9, 2008 11:57 AM:

" We're not just talking about McLean County here. This is going to affect thousands of IL youth and schools. How could the extention office have "outlived it's usefulness" when it has come so far and is providing far more programs for our children today than it did even 10 years ago. This is something we all need to stand up and fight for. "

marym7276 wrote on Apr 9, 2008 10:58 AM:

" I am an instructor at Heartland Community College and have a great relationship with our Extension office. The McLean County Extension staff always is willing to come and be guest lecturers in my classroom on a variety of topics. The quality service they provide is of great value to my students.

Maybe if our governor would live in Springfield and not commute on his private jet at taxpayers expense, our McLean Extension Unit could survive. Our governor's priorities does not reflect the that of the citizens. I am all for Lt. Gov. Quinn's proposal for the right of citizens to recall elected officials. "

CBD1 wrote on Apr 9, 2008 10:52 AM:

" Perhaps the U of I. Extension Service has outlived it's usefulness. "

real american wrote on Apr 9, 2008 8:45 AM:

" Thanks Dems. we really appreciate you giving us this clown. Oh, and since I am not going to reply to your stupid comments, #1 Blago. has been in office almost 2 times as long as Ryan. Ryan can no longer be used as an excuse. #2 we are talking about the Governor of Illinois, NOT the president of the United States (also a jacka$$), so try to stay on topic. "
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