Medical services across the Stateline could suffer if Illinois cuts too deep into its educational funding.

"I'm not sure that everything that we do will survive."

Dr. Martin Lipsky is the dean for the University of Illinois College of Medicine at Rockford and he's been forced to create three seperate budgets. Right now the state of Illinois provides seven million dollars to fund the college, but they say a cut of 5, 10, or 15 percent is in store.

"One of the challenges we face is will anybody lose their jobs and I get asked that a lot, and I think... that's on the table," said Lipsky.

Lipsky has already started cutting costs by not hiring people to fill empty positions, but it won't be enough. The college's primary care clincs in Rockford, Rockton, Belvidere and Mt. Morris could shoulder the brunt of a smaller budget.

"Our mission is to make our community a healthier and better community....the mission that is most at risk is our service mission," said Lipsky.

With state funding up in the air there's only so much planning that can be done. After it's all over however, the college may be better off.

"Crisis sometimes creates opportunity for people to examine what they do and sometimes do tough things that they wouldn't normally do that maybe in the short-term are hard for an institution, but in the long-term are going to be very, very beneficial," said Lipsky.

Lipsky says maintaining their faculty and level of education is his primary focus. Governor Quinn is planning to present his fiscal year 2011 state budget tomorrow. Last year the Illinois legislature passed its budget after the start of the College of Medicine's fiscal year -- forcing them to spend without knowing the bottom line.