Counties propose regional approach to OSU Extension program

Seeking a funding resolution on the local costs of the Ohio State University Extension program, county commissioners from Highland, Brown and

Clinton counties met this week with representatives from the university and the County Commissioners Association of Ohio (CCAO).

   At the Aug. 4 meeting of the Highland County Commission were Gwen Wolford, OSU Extension government relations director, and Larry Long,

executive director of the CCAO.

   In addition to Highland County commissioners Shane Wilkin, Tom Horst and Gary Heaton, also attending were Brown County commissioners Ralph Jennings,

Margery Paeltz and Bill Geschwind, and Clinton County commissioner Randy Riley.

   The three counties, while supportive of Extension and its services, have been seeking approval for a "regional approach" to the OSU Extension

program.

   "We're here to discuss the OSU Extension and the trouble we're having in coming up with the money to fund it," Wilkin said. "We've been in the Top 3

(Ohio counties) in unemployment for many months. We've had layoffs in almost every office. There have been no raises. Few people are working 40 hours.

With that being said, our budget is strapped. ... Everybody's taking substantial cuts. We feel it's time to take a different approach."

   "Our big issue is that they (Extension) are not taking any cuts," Paeltz said. "When other departments are cut, they do not share in this. We feel

Ohio State University needs to do more."

   "We are in the same situation," Riley said. "We've had the highest unemployment in the state. We tried to talk to OSU but were basically told

'This is how we're going to do it.'

   "Let's reinvent OSU Extension," Riley said. "If you were going to start Extension today, it wouldn't be the same as it is. But OSU said they aren't

agreeable to fully staffing county Extension. It's hard to swallow when Extension staff gets raises while county people are being cut."

   Long said that the counties are only mandated to provide facilities for Extension. "From a public perception, people think these are county employees. They are not," Long said.

   Representatives of all three counties said they didn't think OSU was seriously addressing their proposal to form a regional cooperative for

Extension services.

       "I think OSU does take your input seriously," Wolford said. "You may not like the decision."

   When asked about regional sharing of costs related to the university program, Wolford cited the Smith–Lever Act of 1914. The act is a federal law

that established a system of cooperative extension services connected to the land-grant universities in order to inform people about current developments

in agriculture, home economics and related subjects.

   Wolford said the university revenues come from state funding and tuition, "neither of which can be  used for something other than what it was intended for."

   Long offered that "there are states that have gone with a regional approach. But there's a philosophy that we want a presence, locally."

   "Highland, Clinton and Brown counties got together with a proposal for a regional approach. I don't know that we ever got an answer," Wilkin said.

   "We never got an answer," Horst replied.

   “It’s almost as if (OSU) said, ‘Run your levy, then we’ll talk,’” Wilkin said.

   Highland County voters soundly rejected an Extension levy in May.

   "As far back as 2007 we talked about a regional approach," Heaton said. "Even Dr. Gee (OSU President Gordon Gee) says they're willing to help, but nothing gets done. ... Is our model a workable solution?"

   "I am not in a position to answer that," Wolford said.

   "You can get an answer and report back," Horst said.

   "Gwen and I need to look at this and see if it's doable," Long said. "We'll get back with you no late than right after Labor Day."

   No action was taken on the issue.

* In other action, commissioners sent a letter to all county department heads emphasizing "the importance of holding down costs as much as possible."

   "After reviewing your 2011 initial budget request, having discussions with the auditor to project revenue, and reviewing receipts to-date, our

2011 General Fund total budget does not appear to be substantially different from 2010. Second, as you noticed when you received your final appropriation

for 2010 following the temporary appropriations, you were given a total dollar amount for your budget. To prevent micro-management, each department

will again receive a single approved total dollar amount for the entire 2011 budget. It is for 2010 and will be for 2011, imperative that all departments

stay within budget."

* Commissioners received a letter from Wendy J. Jacobs, executive director of Highland County Children Services, in which she made a second request for the appointment of two new board members.

   "In a previous letter dated June 16, 2010 it was brought to your attention that two new board members needed to be appointed," Jacobs said.

"To date, there have been no appropriations made. The board must have two new members to ensure that there is a quorum at meetings to enable the agency to pay bills."

   The board submitted the following individuals for consideration: Michelle Ross, Joanie Minton and Tom Zile.

   Heaton said the board's policy is to request written letters of interest from each candiate prior to making a decision.

Resolutions

Commissioners passed the following resolutions, all by 3-0 votes:

* The authorization of a modification to County Miscellaneous and an advance to the Emergency Management Agency fund (W-75) as follows: modify

from Attorney Indigent Fees to Advances Out, in the amount of $4,000, and advance from Advances Out to Emergency Management Agency, in the amount of

$4,000. The advance will pay for payroll and invoices until EMA receives anticipated funding in mid-August.

* The authorization of a modification to the General Fund budget as follows: from Commissioners, Salary Employees, to TEC, Supplies, in the amount of $500; and from Commissioners, Salary Employees, to Maintenance & Operations, Supplies, in the amount of $2,000. The total

amount modified from Salary Employees is $2,500.

Seeking a funding resolution on the local costs of the Ohio State University Extension program, county commissioners from Highland, Brown and Clinton counties met this week with representatives from the university and the County Commissioners Association of Ohio (CCAO).

   At the Aug. 4 meeting of the Highland County Commission were Gwen Wolford, OSU Extension government relations director, and Larry Long,

executive director of the CCAO.

   In addition to Highland County commissioners Shane Wilkin, Tom Horst and Gary Heaton, also attending were Brown County commissioners Ralph Jennings,

Margery Paeltz and Bill Geschwind, and Clinton County commissioner Randy Riley.

   The three counties, while supportive of Extension and its services, have been seeking approval for a "regional approach" to the OSU Extension program.

   "We're here to discuss the OSU Extension and the trouble we're having in coming up with the money to fund it," Wilkin said. "We've been in the Top 3

(Ohio counties) in unemployment for many months. We've had layoffs in almost every office. There have been no raises. Few people are working 40 hours.

With that being said, our budget is strapped. ... Everybody's taking substantial cuts. We feel it's time to take a different approach."

   "Our big issue is that they (Extension) are not taking any cuts," Paeltz said. "When other departments are cut, they do not share in this. We feel Ohio State University needs to do more."

   "We are in the same situation," Riley said. "We've had the highest unemployment in the state. We tried to talk to OSU but were basically told 'This is how we're going to do it.'

   "Let's reinvent OSU Extension," Riley said. "If you were going to start Extension today, it wouldn't be the same as it is. But OSU said they aren't agreeable to fully staffing county Extension. It's hard to swallow when Extension staff gets raises while county people are being cut."

   Long said that the counties are only mandated to provide facilities for Extension. "From a public perception, people think these are county employees. They are not," Long said.

   Representatives of all three counties said they didn't think OSU was seriously addressing their proposal to form a regional cooperative for Extension services.

     "I think OSU does take your input seriously," Wolford said. "You may not like the decision."

   When asked about regional sharing of costs related to the university program, Wolford cited the Smith–Lever Act of 1914. The act is a federal law that established a system of cooperative extension services connected to the land-grant universities in order to inform people about current developments in agriculture, home economics and related subjects.

   Wolford said the university revenues come from state funding and tuition, "neither of which can be used for something other than what it was intended for."

   Long offered that "there are states that have gone with a regional approach. But there's a philosophy that we want a presence, locally."

   "Highland, Clinton and Brown counties got together with a proposal for a regional approach. I don't know that we ever got an answer," Wilkin said.

   "We never got an answer," Horst replied.

   “It’s almost as if (OSU) said, ‘Run your levy, then we’ll talk,’” Wilkin said.

   Highland County voters soundly rejected an Extension levy in May.

   "As far back as 2007 we talked about a regional approach," Heaton said. "Even Dr. Gee (OSU President Gordon Gee) says they're willing to help, but nothing gets done. ... Is our model a workable solution?"

   "I am not in a position to answer that," Wolford said.

   "You can get an answer and report back," Horst said.

   "Gwen and I need to look at this and see if it's doable," Long said. "We'll get back with you no late than right after Labor Day."

   No action was taken on the issue.

* In other action, commissioners sent a letter to all county department heads emphasizing "the importance of holding down costs as much as possible."

   "After reviewing your 2011 initial budget request, having discussions with the auditor to project revenue, and reviewing receipts to-date, our 2011 General Fund total budget does not appear to be substantially different from 2010. Second, as you noticed when you received your final appropriation for 2010 following the temporary appropriations, you were given a total dollar amount for your budget. To prevent micro-management, each department will again receive a single approved total dollar amount for the entire 2011 budget. It is for 2010 and will be for 2011, imperative that all departments stay within budget."

* Commissioners received a letter from Wendy J. Jacobs, executive director of Highland County Children Services, in which she made a second request for the appointment of two new board members.

   "In a previous letter dated June 16, 2010 it was brought to your attention that two new board members needed to be appointed," Jacobs said.

"To date, there have been no appropriations made. The board must have two new members to ensure that there is a quorum at meetings to enable the agency to pay bills."

   The board submitted the following individuals for consideration: Michelle Ross, Joanie Minton and Tom Zile.

   Heaton said the board's policy is to request written letters of interest from each candiate prior to making a decision.

Resolutions

Commissioners passed the following resolutions, all by 3-0 votes:

* The authorization of a modification to County Miscellaneous and an advance to the Emergency Management Agency fund (W-75) as follows: modify

from Attorney Indigent Fees to Advances Out, in the amount of $4,000, and advance from Advances Out to Emergency Management Agency, in the amount of

$4,000. The advance will pay for payroll and invoices until EMA receives anticipated funding in mid-August.

* The authorization of a modification to the General Fund budget as follows: from Commissioners, Salary Employees, to TEC, Supplies, in the amount of $500; and from Commissioners, Salary Employees, to Maintenance & Operations, Supplies, in the amount of $2,000. The total amount modified from Salary Employees is $2,500.