Changes likely for Extension

Although state budget woes likely mean changes are in the offing for the Ogle County Extension office, programs like 4-H are expected to remain intact.

Ogle County Extension Director Vicky Broos said Monday, that the decisions about exactly what changes will be made have not yet been made.

“What we do know is that there will be restructuring, and what we do know is that there will be a focus on keeping a local presence,” Broos said.

State budget constraints have prompted the University of Illinois Extension to explore ways to cut as much as $5 million from its budget.

U of I Extension offers educational programming in all of Illinois’ 102 counties, including 4-H.

Broos said Extension leaders are currently wrapping up a series of sessions across the state to obtain input from the public on the options. The last session is March 12.

Extension leaders will consider the public’s comments when making their final decisions. The plans need to be put together by mid to late April, she said.

Combining county offices is one of the options being considered, Broos said.

“The focus will be on people to do programs, and less on facility costs,” she said. “Even if counties merge from an administrative point of view and downsize facilities, there will still be Ogle County 4-H and Ogle County Extension. We will still be doing local programs.”

The Ogle County Extension rents office space from the Ogle County Farm Bureau in its building on Pines Road, Oregon.

A lack of state funding is a big concern for the local Extension office.

“We haven’t received any yet. This year I’m waiting for $156,000,” Broos said.

That’s on a total budget of $363,000.

Ordinarily the state matches 100 percent of what the office raises on the local level.

“This year we budgeted the match at 85 percent,” she said.

Two opportunities remain for the public to participate in input sessions in northern Illinois.

A meeting will be held on Thursday, March 4 from 6 to 8 p.m. at the Bureau Unit Office, 850 Thompson St., Princeton.

For anyone who would like to provide input, but cannot travel to Princeton, an audio-conference will be available at the Ogle County Farm Bureau, Pines Road, Oregon, on Thursday, March 11 from 2 to 3:30 p.m.