Thomas Fitzgerald of the state Supreme Court is asking Gov. Pat
Quinn to roll back a 44 percent cut in funding for county probation
services. For 65 probation departments throughout the state, the
Supreme Court reimburses as much as 65 percent of the officers'
salaries.
Fitzgerald said the court's funding in the 2010 state budget was
$36.5 million, or about $30 million less than in previous years.
Officials in populous Madison County, near St. Louis, said
earlier this month the cuts would force the layoff of as many as 30
officers, or nearly half the entire staff.
Quinn is still trying to balance the budget he negotiated with
lawmakers and has pledged further cuts.
[Associated Press]
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