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QUINCY, ILL. -- Illinois' state budget woes have trickled down to the University of Illinois Extension.

We found out that the state owes the Adams and Brown county extension offices $311,000 dollars for this fiscal year.  The state hasn't made a payment at all this fiscal year.  That's prompted extension offices to re-organize.

County Director of the Adams/Brown Unit Carrie Edgar says her agency depends on the state for 42% of their budget. The rest comes from local dollars and grants.  Those dollars pay staff, rent and go towards programming such as 4-H.

"Certainly, it's affecting out ability to go forward. We haven't received any payments yet this fiscal year. So we're having to make cutbacks...We're looking at ways to cut back without affecting programming as much as possible," said Carrie Edgar

Not only is the state behind, Edgar says she was told to expect a 15% in state funding.  Without key funding, extension offices will have to evaluate services.

Q: What are you doing to deal with the budget crisis? Are cuts possible?

Carried Edgar answered," That's a possibility, we're not there yet. We're hoping to find other ways, primarily, we're hoping those state funds will come through. If state funds don't arrive, at some point we're going to have to look at cutting back programs, which would include cutting back staff."

Extension leaders are now seeking public input on their options for the future.  Below are dates and times for public forums in our area:

Thursday, March 4, at 1pm to 3pm at McDonough Unit Auditorium, 3022 W. Jackson, Macomb, Ill.

Thursday, March, 11 at 2pm tp 3:30pm, a teleconference will be held at the Adams/Brown County offices

Edgar also told KHQA some counties could lose offices or extensions could merge together.