JACKSONVILLE, Fla. -- With all state agencies being asked to reduce budgets, the Florida Department of Law Enforcement said it may have to cut two high-profile programs: Amber Alerts and the sex-offender registry notifications.

Those are two of 34 programs that could be eliminated if the state requires the FDLE to cut 10 percent -- $18 million -- from its budget.

Agency officials said after two previous years of budget reductions, there's no fat left, so they must consider cutting essential programs.

"We've lost 56 positions in the last year, and we know any additional cuts are going to be in our key service area," FDLE spokeswoman Heather Smith told WOKV. "Anything beyond this point is certainly going to have an effect on public safety."

The Amber Alert program gets out the word on abducted children statewide by issuing emergency broadcast warnings and utilizing electronic highway signs.

The state's sex offender registry notifies 44,000 Floridians who signed up for alerts if a sex offender moves into their neighborhood.

"They're there for a purpose. When you start cutting them, it starts hurting," said Steve Donaway, assistant special agent in charge of Jacksonville's FDLE.

He said they've had to make tough decisions already; because of budget cuts last year the FDLE got rid of 56 jobs across the state. This year he said they had to let 120 people go.

"We're not just using this as a scare technique. Our agency has thoughtfully looked through the services we provide and we're getting rid of the ones that aren't our core mission. Our core mission is our laboratory services; we do the forensic examinations for law enforcement for almost the entire state and we do the investigations," Donaway said.

Shelia DeLongis, formerly Clifton, knows the pain of losing a child. She just remembered the 10-year anniversary of her daughter's murder.

She said when she heard of these possible cuts she became enraged.

"Too many lives have been saved. Too many children's lives are worth a lot more than this. Please don't cut it," said DeLongis. "Why is it always children that we go after? They're so important. Why? It doesn't make any sense to me. It's crazy."

The cuts are just proposals. If lawmakers decide on less-severe budget reductions, the Amber Alert and sex offender registry would very likely keep their funding.

Florida's Chief Financial Officer Alex Sink points to statistics that show rising crime rates when the economy recedes. She warns cuts to the public safety agency will put Florida families at risk.