By DEBORAH BEHRENDS
Illinois Correspondent

URBANA, Ill. — Continuing state budget constraints have prompted the University of Illinois extension to explore additional ways to cut costs and still provide high-impact programming, and extension leaders are now seeking public input on their options.

“To be fiscally responsible, U of I extension is planning for funding cuts, but we want to make these cuts in such a way as to maintain extension’s strong tradition of high-impact educational programming, which has had a dramatic effect on the citizens of Illinois over the years,” said Bob Hoeft, interim extension director.
According to extension Communications Specialist Gary Beaumont, the extension has more than 2.5 million face-to-face contacts with Illinois residents annually. An even greater number is reached via the Internet. It’s projected that extension funding will decline between $2 million-$5 million next year, and a rescission of state funding is expected in the future. Beaumont said extension leadership plans to outline for those attending the meetings the financial situation it faces, and “float a few ideas about how the organization can cope.”

One example he offered includes “reducing rental costs by closing some facilities. Facilities don’t deliver educational programs, people do.” He also mentioned reducing administrative costs.
While a cost-savings plan is not yet finalized, Hoeft said he’s operating on several guiding principles.

“First, we want to maintain a system that produces and delivers effective, high-impact educational programming in response to local needs,” he said.

Hoeft also said extension is exploring the concept of multi-county units to reduce administrative costs, such as facility rental and administrators, which also means that the number of educators could increase for these multi-county units.

“We also want to support youth programming and 4-H at the same high level because it has a major impact on Illinois children. This will be a priority in the reorganization,” Hoeft said.

“The proposed changes are necessary to maintain programming,” Beaumont said.

Hoeft also emphasizes the continued use of new and effective learning technologies to deliver educational programming.
After the public meetings, he expects to finalize reorganization plans in mid-April and start implementing the plans after that.
This is not the first time in recent years the extension has felt the pinch of budget struggles.

In the fall of 2007, then-Gov. Rod Blagojevich used his amendatory veto to cut $1.6 million in funding for 4-H youth development educators from the state’s budget.

The UoI extension’s fiscal year 2009 budget totaled $65 million, supporting 800 employees of all classifications.

The budget is made up mostly from federal, state and local public funds. Extension offers educational programming in all of Illinois’ 102 counties in response to locally identified needs.

The following meetings are scheduled to get input from those who use the services of their local extension units:
•5-7 p.m., Monday, Feb. 22, Champaign Unit Auditorium, 801 North Country Fair Drive in Champaign
•6:30-8:30 p.m., Tuesday, Feb. 23, John A. Logan College, Hancock Conference Center, 700 College Road in Carterville
•2-4 p.m., Thursday, Feb. 25, DeKalb Unit Office, 1350 W. Prairie Drive in Sycamore
•2-4 p.m., Friday, Feb. 26, Effingham Unit Office, 1209 Wenthe Drive in Effingham
•7-9 p.m., Monday, March 1, Okawville Community Club Building, 511 S. Hanover Street in Okawville
•6-8 p.m., Tuesday, March 2, Kane Unit Office, 535 S. Randall Road in St. Charles
•1-3 p.m., Thursday, March 4, McDonough Unit Auditorium, 3022 W. Jackson in Macomb
•6-8 p.m., Thursday, March 4, Bureau Unit Office, 850 Thompson Street in Princeton
•6-8 p.m., Tuesday, March 9, UoI Extension Center Illini Auditorium, Illinois State Fairgrounds, 1101 E. Sangamon Avenue in Springfield
•10 a.m.-noon, Friday, March 12, Countryside Center, 6438 Joliet Road in Countryside