MACON COUNTY, Ill. (WAND) – Budget cuts have forced the Macon County probation department to consider laying off officers.
Department leaders confirmed to WAND-TV that the state has cut over $257,000 in funding – about a fourth of the total money Macon County’s probation office works with every year - forcing them to contemplate a change. The probation office employs 31 people.
The Macon County board juggles a budget of close to $72 million. Macon County Director of Probation Services Pat Berter tells WAND-TV as many as three layoffs could happen, or the board could decide to add $150,000 to the department’s funding.
Its members are expected to talk about the issue Wednesday at a finance committee meeting, then potentially vote at a later date if the committee approves changes. Final budget decisions are expected by November.
Berter says his department has people working on everything from supervising offenders to overseeing community service work. Other department leaders are involved in drug and mental health court programs. Its employees work on over 2,000 cases involving minors and adults.
He stressed to the station that his people are “doing really good work” at the end of a Tuesday afternoon phone call.
