Proposed budget includes some funding for University of Illinois Extension

Supporters of the University of Illinois Extension are breathing a little bit easier now that the proposed budget for the 2012 fiscal year includes some funding from the state of Illinois.  However, it is at a lower rate than ever before, said Jeanne Harland, Legislative Chair for Extension Partners, which is a volunteer statewide organization that works to create stable and adequate funding for Extension, specifically through line items that appear in the Illinois Department of Agriculture budget.

Harland explained that original intent was to have the state match county board funding dollar for dollar.  That was the case for many years, until the state was unable to fund it fully.  It went to an 85 percent match, and then for the FY2012 budget, the proposed rate is now a match of 69 percent.  “The 69 cents is not where we’d like it to be, but in this budget cycle, we feel that it’s a fair amount, and the units have seen this coming, so they have been able to work within these constraints,” said Harland.

The Senate version originally zeroed the line item out, but the House version included $10.8 million, which is what will provide the 69 percent match.  Extension supporters contacted legislators over the past several weeks to bring the issue to their attention, and the Senate eventually decided to use the same figures as the House.  Harland said that is the version that now sits before the governor.

The University of Illinois Extension begins July 1 with a reorganized structure that was a direct result of budget challenges.  Several years ago, Extension went from 102 units down to 77, and the most recent reorganization took it down to 27 units across the state.  Harland said it has been difficult on many levels, but programming will still be delivered on a local level.   “We just can’t put all of those people out there like we once did.  More of it is going to be done online or via the internet,” said Harland.

Harland said there is also another bill that could help Extension in the long run.  “People have probably been hearing about Senate Bill 744, which is the expansion of gaming.  In that bill are provisions to provide an additional $4 million for the county board portion of the Extension funding.  That bill is also on the governor’s desk.  If it is signed, and of course it would take years, for that money to be realized, but if you do the math, that additional $4 million would bring that county board match line up to 100 percent.  That’s why that number is what it is.  That would be something that would help.  There is actually lots of money for agriculture in that bill,” Harland said.

To hear the interview with Jeanne Harland, click here:

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