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State's budget woes hit Cooperative Extension

Posted April 08, 2008 11:00 pm

Doug Finke

More than 400 jobs could be cut at Cooperative Extension Service offices statewide because the Blagojevich administration is withholding the money to fund them.

Gary Beaumont, spokesman for the University of Illinois Extension program, said Tuesday that the program was notified last week that $12.8 million earmarked for downstate Extension Services is being withheld by the state Department of Agriculture. The money is promised by the state to match local funds allocated to the services.

"It's about half of all money for local programs for each office," Beaumont said. "All of these funds are salaries for people. We expect 400 lost positions."

Agriculture has stopped doling out the grants, even though lawmakers approved money for them in the current budget. The department said it has no choice because there is a $750 million shortfall and the state cannot afford to spend all of the money allocated. Gov. Rod Blagojevich has asked lawmakers to end some business tax breaks and dip into restricted funds to raise additional revenue for the fiscal year that ends June 30.

The Sangamon-Menard Extension office will lose about $273,000, or about half of its budget, said director Diane Duewer, who is reviewing her spending plan to determine where money can be saved and if some of her eight staff members will have to be let go.

"We have been asked to prepare a budget for the cuts," she said. "It's devastating, and it's devastating to counties all across the state."

Two key people recently left the office, and their jobs will not be filled. One was a crops educator who gave advice to farmers about problems they may face.

Joseph Pickrell, who farms 2,500 acres near Buffalo, said he'd relied on that advice over the years, especially since it is not coming from a seed or chemical manufacturer trying to sell a product. One issue recently was a soybean fungus and whether it is a good idea to spray or not.

"They're giving the straight information on diseases and yields. They don't have an ax to grind," Pickrell said.

Beaumont said Extension Services should have alternate spending plans prepared by May 1.

"It's going to cripple our programs," he said. "The people are the programs."

There are 89 Extension offices around the state. In addition to offering advice to farmers, the offices have 4-H programs, nutrition programs and can help city dwellers with questions about gardening and landscaping.

Beaumont said Extension offices have more than 2.5 million face-to-face contacts with clients each year. About 280,000 people participate in the 4-H programs, he said.

Doug Finke can be reached at (217) 788-1527.

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