By TIM ALEXANDER

Illinois Correspondent

URBANA, Ill. — Funding for the University of Illinois Cooperative Extension, including 4-H, was officially suspended the first of July by the office of Gov. Bruce Rauner.

The suspension came under a round of budget cuts intended to save the state – which currently holds a $4 billion budget deficit – more than $400 million this fiscal year. The budget suspensions, which were announced June 12, also withdraw funds for Soil and Water Conservation Districts (SWCDs), county fairs, construction projects other than roads and the Illinois Tobacco QuitLine.

At press time, Rauner, a first-term Republican, remains at a stalemate with state House Speaker Michael Madigan and Senate President John Cullerton, both Democrats, over key aspects of Rauner’s budget proposal for FY 2015, which began July 1. As the battle drags on, extension employees such as Anita Wilkinson, programming director for the Fulton-Mason-Peoria-Tazewell (FMPT) extension unit, are left wondering what the impact of the budget suspension will be to 4-H and other popular programs offered by extension.

“4-H is under the whole umbrella of extension, just one aspect. I can’t yet speak to how the budget cut will trickle down to 4-H,” Wilkinson said July 17.

Some of the programs and activities under FMPT extension include gardening programs and field trips, master naturalist and gardener certifications, 4-H fairs, community and economic development, commercial agriculture updates, local food system and small farm education, nutrition and wellness and leadership and local government guidance.

Any or all of those programs and activities could be axed if the Democrat-controlled legislature refuses to bow to Rauner’s threatened cuts to vital services – including public schools and transportation announced earlier – without a tax hike.

“There is no budget for the current fiscal year for extension,” confirmed Steve Wald, U of I extension communications director. “In early June the governor announced an additional set of budget suspensions as part of the escalating negotiations with the legislature.

“There were several Department of Agriculture programs that had their funding suspended for FY ‘15, including funding lines that extension and 4-H receive through the Department of Agriculture. Like many university and state agencies, we’re operating without any certainty about our budget situation.”

Extension workers are currently focusing on their jobs and letting the governor and general assembly hash out budget details, Wald said. He just hopes an agreement is reached in time for the Illinois State Fair in Springfield, which opens Aug. 13 and runs through Aug. 23, and culminates with 4-H project and animal judging. “The timing (of the budget suspension) is hard, being right on the cusp of state fair season and the turn of the fiscal year, to have that funding wink out. There is a lot of preparation related to the state fair. We’re being as frugal as possible and trying to string together resources so that we can continue our activities,” said Wald.

“We’re doing our best to keep the fair on track for the kids who have been preparing all year.”

The situation is on the radar of at least one state representative. Jerry Costello (D-116th) is heading up a petition to show Rauner the value in ag education programs such as 4-H and other state-funded initiatives. On Costello’s Facebook page he implores constituents and others to “please join me in standing with the youth of Illinois by signing the petition and sharing it with others that will be affected by this funding suspension.”

Costello’s petition extends to the suspension of funding for SWCDs and county fairs, as well.

Wald said he is unaware if any actual legislation or legal action is being prepared to at least partially restore funding for extension.

“At this point we’re just hopeful that between the governor’s office and the legislature they come to an agreement,” he said. “We know that we deliver not just popular programming through 4-H and other works, but important programs for the state. Our programs help Illinois citizens learn how to be healthier and more prosperous, help communities grow and more.”

The budget suspensions came four years after drastic cuts to extension forced the merger of offices and dismissal of workers.

For Wilkinson and the 40-some employees of the FMPT extension, it’s now come down to a matter of wait-and-see as to whether 4-H and other popular extension programs will survive.