When the state finally lowered its financial ax this week, adopting a budget with drastic cuts, it dealt a crushing blow to Sampson County, particularly in the area of education.

And while we understand that the state’s financial bind left legislators little choice but to whittle away at services, it is still a difficult strike to take.

From preschool to the community college, the blows were dealt, severe enough to likely force the reduction, if not elimination, of some services and even force some fees to be passed on to those seeking educational excellence.

Take a quick glance at the losses:

• The Partnership for Children of Sampson County, which funds early education initiatives like More at Four and Smart Start, could lose a good chunk of its budget this year. With a $16 million overall cut to the 77 agencies across the state, the local agency is likely to feel a significant pinch. Already this year, in the 2008-09 budget, our Partnership had to revert 16.9 percent of its total $1.1 million budget. And, while it’s unclear how much will be lost in the 2009-10 fiscal year, with $16 million to be slashed across the board, one thing is crystal clear — the blow will be severe.

• Sampson Community College, which, like the Partnership, has already had to revert money back to the state from 2008-09 coffers, will take a hit in its dual enrollment program, which is utilized by over 100 local high school students. The state budget impacts the eligibility of high school students who take college level courses and is forcing SCC officials to charge a fee that has never been leveled before. Students literally have four options: Drop the course and add a Learn and Earn online course instead; drop the course and sign up for one not impacted by the changes; remain in the course and pay a tuition, which is $172.25 for a three-hour course; or withdraw completely from the community college and add an additional course or courses at their high school.

• The public schools, Clinton City and Sampson County, which are feeling the deepest cut from the state’s spending plan. Sampson County Schools is expected to cut over $1.5 million; Clinton City another $486,624, painful cuts that will certainly have an impact on services no matter how hard school officials try to avoid them. For one thing, there is no textbook money. And no matter how one tries to sugar-coat the issue, it is what it is — new textbooks won’t be going home with your student this year. Class sizes will increase; staff development will likely decrease and, unless local funds are used, such things as remediation and summer school are in danger of being lost or drastically cut back.

It is the reality of a bad economy and a far worse state budget, one that likely shouldn’t have gotten as bad as it did before lawmakers intervened. But that, too, is history now as educators across Sampson County prepare to do the best they can with what they’ve been given.

The silver lining in all this, if one is to be found, is that we have extraordinary school leaders in Sampson County whose number one focus remains the children and serving their educational needs. And budget cuts or not, that will make the difference for us, and will help lessen the pain our youngsters will feel from the financial blow that’s been dealt.