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Budget crisis cuts $17.8M from the Illinois Extension

By TIM ALEXANDER
Illinois Correspondent

URBANA, Ill. — University of Illinois officials are scrambling to restore funding for their extension program, which serves more than 2.5 million residents and communities each year through programs such as family nutrition, 4-H and others.

The university’s College of Agricultural, Consumer and Environmental Sciences (ACES) reports it was informed by the Illinois Department of Agriculture on April 1 – three-quarters through the 2008 fiscal year that ends June 30 – that about $17.8 million in funding for extension would be withheld due to the state’s budget crisis.

“From the highest levels of the university, including the university president, the extension office, the College of ACES and the university governmental relations office, we’re reaching out to state legislators and officials in the state budget office to see if they can work out a financial plan that would allow extension funding to be restored,” said Tom Hardy, UoI’s executive director for the office of university relations.

The 2008 state budget extension line items in question are the County Board Match at $12.8 million and the Cook County Initiative at $5.05 million, according to a news release from the university. The reduction of funding could directly affect 450 jobs and result in a funding loss of $29 million when costs associated with employee separations are figured in.

In addition, matching grant programs operated by extension, including federally supported nutrition programs, could be negatively impacted.

“There is no question this will have a serious detrimental impact on extension in every corner of the state,” Hardy told Farm World.
“That’s why it is so important to get legislators to work with the state budget office to develop a plan that would allow most, if not all, funding to be released.

“Extension is vital to the state, not only in the agriculture community but in suburban and urban communities. The extension has over 2.5 million face-to-face contacts with the citizens of Illinois every year, and many more through the Internet.”

More than 280,000 students hailing from Illinois’ 102 counties are involved in 4-H and other youth development programs associated with extension.

“4-H is integrally connected with extension, and this would certainly have an impact,” Hardy said. “The funding cut would have a deep ripple effect on all programs that are match-funded by the government. Anything that comes into contact with extension can potentially be hurt.”

Pete Fandel, director of Woodford County extension, wouldn’t comment on statewide repercussions of the funding cut, but offered his take on what it could mean to his county office.
“We would have to cut at least three staff members, and it will affect our ability to offer all the programs we do,” he said. “Some of our major programs would be cut drastically.

“Long-term, who knows what the ramifications could be; a reduction in office hours is possible. We’ll know more as to the total effect it will have on this office after the official plan is filed on the first of May.”

The UoI extension is a 90-year-old initiative that provides educational programs aimed at improving the quality of life among individuals and communities in Illinois.

As part of the federal land-grant university system, it connects citizens with the UoI.

“Extension is a vital part of Illinois,” Hardy said. “Some people might not know much about extension, but it is a household word and a big part of people’s lives in many parts of Illinois.”

Hardy said those concerned about the future of extension “need to get in touch with their legislators” and urge them to restore funding.

This farm news was published in the April 16, 2008 issue of the Farm World, serving Indiana, Ohio, Illinois, Kentucky, Michigan and Tennessee.
4/16/2008