BLOOMINGTON - A shelter and program for victims of domestic violence will remain open as long as possible, despite the threat of a state budget cut of 75 percent that would take effect July 1. | State tuition aid could get hit by cuts

The board of directors of Mid Central Community Action - which runs Neville House-Countering Domestic Violence in Bloomington - voted to continue to provide services, Community Action Executive Director John Burrill said Thursday.

The hope is that the state will restore at least some of the funding, Burrill said. The danger is that - with no additional money - Neville House and the Countering Domestic Violence program could close Sept. 30, he said.

"No one wants that," Burrill said. "People know this program is important to the community."

'Serious catastrophes'

The other board option was to cut staff and reduce services beginning July 1 - which would mean that the program wouldn't have to close until the end of this year with no additional funding. Burrill said the board determined that option was too risky because it would have meant the domestic violence hot line and counseling and Neville House would close during the day, meaning victims of domestic violence in McLean County would only get assistance at night.

"Serious catastrophes could occur if people couldn't find a safe place and couldn't get the advice they needed during the day," Burrill said.

The program had been slated to get $415,000 from the state. A 75 percent cut would leave $103,750. The program has six full-time employees and about seven part-timers and assisted 443 adults and 79 children between July 1, 2008, and March 31.

The program's total budget is $600,000, including $60,000 from United Way of McLean County. The board plans to increase fundraising but Burrill said fundraising can't cover the state cut.