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Extension Partners Priority Funding Requests for FY08 NO FY08 FUNDS HAVE BEEN RELEASED BY GOVERNOR BLAGOJEVICH
At this time, the governor has not released any of the budgeted funds for FY08. Therefore, none of the FY08 money can be used by Extension at any level. The fiscal year began on July 1, 2007. In the case of the County Board Match funds, the counties that have passed referenda to fund Extension have, in good faith, provided money, believing that it would be matched dollar-for-dollar by the State of Illinois. If and when the governor does release the funds, the match will be at just over 95%, and not the full amount requested.
County Board Match (CBM) in the Illinois Department of Agriculture Budget
$13,400,000 is needed for CBM appropriation. These funds represent the state's commitment to match local dollars. ($12,800,000 in proposed budget)
4-H Youth Development, Statewide
$2,832,000 is needed to achieve our goal of a 4-H Youth Development Educator in each of the 77 Extension units. Currently, 27 Youth Development Educator positions are state funded. To complete the 77 unit roster, 17 additional positions need to be state funded. $1,093,000 of the $2,832,000 would be new money to fund these 17 positions (the remaining 32 positions are currently funded from other sources). These additional Youth Development Educators would coordinate the thousands of volunteer leaders and the several hundred thousand youth in 4-H programs delivered locally in all 102 counties. 4-H is a community of young people across Illinois who are learning leadership, citizenship and life skills. For more information on 4-H go to http://www.4-h.uiuc.edu/. ($0 in proposed budget)This line was vetoed on August 23. See Legislative Issues for more information.
Programmatic Funds in University of Illinois Budget
Extension Partners also supports the retention of the new $300,000 line item in the University of Illinois budget for statewide Extension specialists. In addition, we request an additional $600,000 in FY08 to continue to meet the minimum expectations of Illinoisans.
These statewide specialists will work in partnership with individuals, families and communities to help solve critical issues associated with economic development, workforce preparation, family resiliency, food safety and health, youth development, immigration, and to provide experiential learning in science, technology, engineering and math in the out-of-classroom setting in order to improve the quality of life of the people of Illinois. These statewide specialists are strategically assigned around the state to meet these needs. ($ 0 in proposed budget)
Cook County Extension Service
$5,206,000 is needed to maintain programs that are tailored to the unique needs of a major urban center. (The FY06 Illinois Department of Agriculture's budget created a new line item for Cook County Extension.) For more specific information about these programs, please contact the Director of University of Illinois Extension, Dr. Dennis Campion, at 217-333-5900 or Dr. James Oliver, Associate Chancellor and Assistant Dean, University of Illinois Extension at 708-481-0111. ($ 0 in proposed budget)
For More Information
Please contact Pamela Weber, Legislative Consultant for Extension Partners, for additional information. Phone: 309-837-1884 E-mail: pweber221@aol.com
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