MENDON, ILL. -- More cuts in Illinois' budget could mean changes at your county fair this summer.
Governor Quinn's budget proposal set aside $900,000 for county fair distribution.
The Illinois Senate's plan trims the governor's budget to under $700,000.
The Adams County Fair Grounds are quiet now... But come the end of July and this place will be packed with thousands of people for the annual county fair. It's still two months away, but fair board members are working to make sure the fair goes off without too many changes.
"We're trying to cushion that the best we can. Hopefully, there won't be too big of cuts that won't be too noticeable but we'll just have to wait and see," says Fair Board Secretary Bernie Woodworth.
Woodworth says the money doesn't get spent until it's received. But anywhere from 10 - 25% could be cut from the state's budget.
"It's going to affect the premiums that we pay for the open livestock, all of the livestock and everything, the domestic arts. All of the premiums are going to be cut, We've consolidated some things, reduced classes and such," says Woodworth.
"There's going to be some money reduced on the 4-H side. We're going to do everything we can to make sure the 4-H is not affected," says board President Brad Kestner.
Illinois State Senator John Sullivan doesn't think cutting money from 4-H will close the fifteen billion dollar deficit.
"I realize that they need to have some cuts. We all have to sacrifice. We're all going to have to make some tough decisions here," said Sullivan. "But I want to make sure that we don't completely devastate and eliminate a program."
So for now, Kestner and Woodworth will have to wait until June 1 when the budget is finalized.
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