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450 U of I Extension jobs on the chopping block
By Kartikay Mehrotra
kartikay.mehrotra@lee.net
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SPRINGFIELD -- While hundreds of her University of Illinois Cooperative Extension colleagues are already without work because of budget cuts, Decatur horticulture expert Jennifer Nelson still has a job. For now.

“If I lose my job, I’ll lose a job I love, and very few people can really say that and mean it,” Nelson said. “I am angry and upset that what’s happening politically is affecting my personal career choices and my personal passion.”

About 450 Extension jobs are on the chopping block as a result of Gov. Rod Blagojevich’s attempt to curb state expenses to fill what he says is a $750 million budget hole.

University administrators in Champaign-Urbana are asking the Extension offices’ directors to explain by Thursday how they plan to survive the governor’s cuts, which withhold almost 50 percent of the remaining budget for each office for the remaining weeks in the current fiscal year. The fiscal year will end June 30.

Before Thursday’s deadline, 182 Extension employees have lost their jobs as part of the budget purge.

Nearly 350 staff positions still could be in jeopardy, said Gary Beaumont.

“It will take several weeks to determine the exact number and to notify these individuals,” Beaumont said.

John Fulton, director of the Extension office in Lincoln, and other directors are going through their budgets line by line, sometimes looking for places they can save on staples, paper, pencils and part-time employees. More often, they are striking out portions of agricultural, social and health-related programs and staff salaries.

“Basically, we’re pinching pennies,” Fulton said.

In addition to the Extension programs, the governor’s budget cuts have targeted soil and water conservation districts and 4-H programs.

The Senate has approved a plan that would allow Blagojevich to recoup $530 million in money set aside in special accounts for specific programs. House Speaker Michael Madigan is opposed to giving the governor control of such money and likely won’t allow the measure to be voted on in the House.

“We’re hopeful that House members approve this fund transfer, as they have done in the five previous years, so that programs such as the U of I Extension do not have to suffer,” Blagojevich budget spokeswoman Kelley Quinn said.

However, regional Extension office directors are trying not to get involved in the Democratic infighting in Springfield.

“I don’t want to play politics with the governor. I know this is a political year,” Rock Island Extension director Michael Woods said.

“You’re used to getting a little bit of cuts here and there, but to lose half of the budget to me really hurts me,” Nelson said. “A lot of the programs I’ve worked hard to see succeed could be dismantled in a very short time.”

Some local Extension chapters are planning fundraisers just so they can stay open through the end of the fiscal year on June 30.

In the Quad Cities, volunteers are organizing golf outings to raise money instead of running their annual fairs and festivals. Former volunteers are mailing checks because they still value the Extension’s services.

“That’s the kind of public support we have and the kind we’ll need,” Woods said. “We’re bracing for some pretty tough times.”



Job cuts



Here’s a look at some of the job cuts that have already taken place as of Tuesday as part of the governor’s decision to cut funding to the University of Illinois Cooperative Extension program:

-- 92 Extension program jobs terminated in Cook County.

-- 30 academic staff members notified their positions are being eliminated.

-- 12 civil service positions identified for elimination but employees not yet notified.

-- 39 temporary hourly employees laid off.

-- Five regional academic professional computer support positions eliminated statewide. These positions were funded by County Board match dollars.

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Reader comments on this story - 6 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.

teacher4justice wrote on Apr 30, 2008 4:08 PM:

" To ApH:
This cut affects people all over the state--including Cook County, where the article above says that 92 people have already been laid off...

The U of I Extension is vital in downstate IL, but it's vital upstate as well. "

Country Girl wrote on Apr 30, 2008 2:32 PM:

" To N595 this isn't a case of the money not being there for these programs. Gov Rod wants some money that is in specially designated accounts released for him to use for his pet projects. He is saying he won't release the money for the Ext. services unless the house and senate let him have these other funds. He thinks that the people downstate will contact their Reps and demand this money is release to Gov Rod so that the programs won't be cut. This is form of blackmail. "

marym7276 wrote on Apr 30, 2008 1:51 PM:

" Our McLean County Extension offers so much to us. As an instructor at Heartland Community College, I have asked the extension staff to come and speak to my students on numerous occasions about various topics. The quality of information they present is always valuable and contributes to my students' quality of life.

I am certainly in favor of either impeachment or recall of this current governor. Maybe Rod and George can be cell mates.

"

owl wrote on Apr 30, 2008 9:41 AM:

" Sure hope this won't effect that older lady who works at the McLean County 4-H office. She's been there so long she can remember when there were only three H's. She does such a great job. So sad to see so many hard working folk's lives and so many tremendous community programs for kids and adults put in jeopardy over selfish political shenanigans. Keep sending those letters, emails and phone calls to your congressmen. It's time to put a stop to this nonsense. "

N595 wrote on Apr 30, 2008 9:07 AM:

" I like how there is a double standard. Many of my friends work for the U of I extension. When the RTA was in trouble early this year facing the doomsday scenario, Blago proposed a 4 county sales tax increase. Why isn't the same thing being proposed downstate to save the jobs at the U of I extension? Seems like a double standard to me? "

ApH wrote on Apr 30, 2008 9:00 AM:

" Blo-go will never lay off people in Chicago. Just us down state people. VOTE DEMOCRAT FOR PRESIDENT !!!! R-I-G-H-T... "
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