Highland County/ OSU Extension eyes major budget reductions
Lead Summary
By
Rory Ryan-hcpress@cinci.rr.com
Highland County’s Ohio State University Extension could be the latest victim of a significant budget reduction. Ohio State University Extension Educator Rose Fisher Merkowitz said the proposed cuts from the Highland County commissioners could be “very
devastating” to the office. County commissioner Shane Wilkin told The Highland County Press that preliminary figures indicate the county funds for the extension office may
be reduced from $190,400 to a proposed $47,700, plus $2,300 for the Agricultural Society, next year.
“We are still discussing all of our options and nothing is written in stone at this point,” Wilkin said. “But right now, these are the numbers we’re looking at.”
The county is not mandated to fund the OSU Extension office.
An exploratory committee, co-chaired by Steve Dillon and Rich Graves, has been formed to help the extension agency explore possible funding options.
“We invite the community to join us in an effort to save the Extension as we know it,” Dillon said.
The Highland County extension office provides services for agriculture and natural resources, consumer sciences, family nutrition, community development and 4-H youth development.
The current staff includes two educators, one 4-H coordinator, 1 3/4 support staff members, a program assistant who is on a grant program and a volunteer master gardener.
If the proposed cuts are enacted, Merkowitz said, staffing could be reduced to approximately 1 1/2 employees.
“We have worked very hard to build up these programs,” Merkowitz said. “We realize that this is a difficult economy and we know the commissioners don’t enjoy making these cuts.”
Merkowitz said additional funding from the state right now is “out of the question.”
Ohio is currently debating an $851 million shortfall in its two-year budget for primary and secondary education.
Merkowitz said the office has been looking at additional grants and cost recovery programs, but nothing close to the $140,000 budget reduction. The office’s original proposed budget for 2010 was $223,092. The 2009 current budget reflects a reduction of approximately $30,000 from its $220,000 annual budget. “If these cuts are approved, we cannot possibly run the office anywhere close to what we’ve done in the past,” Merkowitz said.
* On Wednesday, commissioners met with Clinton County Administrator Dr. Mark Brooker, who sent a letter to the OSU Extension on behalf of Highland, Brown and Clinton counties.
In a letter dated Dec. 16 to Dr. Keith Smith, OSU Extension director, Brooker said, “It is with great concern that we write this letter regarding OSU Extension in our counties. The counties have supplied housing and paid for OSU Extension salaries for years. No input into the employee practices has ever been afforded to the supporting counties. Now, OSU Extension administration is asking for the counties to support OSU Extension at a level that we cannot afford. Brown, Clinton, and Highland counties have unemployment that is highest in the state. We have been devastated by the closure of the Wilmington Airpark, which sent 10,000 people to unemployment.
We cannot continue to support this process with OSU Extension at the level requested. We are cutting staff and reducing the hours of employees so that we can balance budgets for next year. It is imperative with the shrinking revenues that each county has experienced that counties approach the cost process by providing services on a regional basis so that the quality of service to our communities is unblemished. "Therefore, we request to know the cost to each of our counties for the following: Continue to support 4-H with the current 4-H staff person we each have.
Becky Cropper - Brown County
Tracy Montague - Clinton County
Libby McNeil - Highland County
Support one agricultural educator between all three counties.
Office staff support for each county.
"Once the cost to each county of the above has assimilated, the tri-county region requests a face to face meeting with you and your staff. At that time we can determine if the cost supplied are realistic for each of our counties in the next budget year. Due to the nature of the budgeting process, we request the costing and meeting with you and your staff take place yet this calendar year. We understand the short timeframe of this request but wish to finish the budget process before the end of the calendar year. Should you have any question regarding our request, please contact Dr.
Mark Brooker, County Administrator for Clinton County, at 937-383-1170.
Thank you in advance for your cooperation on this matter."[[In-content Ad]]
devastating” to the office. County commissioner Shane Wilkin told The Highland County Press that preliminary figures indicate the county funds for the extension office may
be reduced from $190,400 to a proposed $47,700, plus $2,300 for the Agricultural Society, next year.
“We are still discussing all of our options and nothing is written in stone at this point,” Wilkin said. “But right now, these are the numbers we’re looking at.”
The county is not mandated to fund the OSU Extension office.
An exploratory committee, co-chaired by Steve Dillon and Rich Graves, has been formed to help the extension agency explore possible funding options.
“We invite the community to join us in an effort to save the Extension as we know it,” Dillon said.
The Highland County extension office provides services for agriculture and natural resources, consumer sciences, family nutrition, community development and 4-H youth development.
The current staff includes two educators, one 4-H coordinator, 1 3/4 support staff members, a program assistant who is on a grant program and a volunteer master gardener.
If the proposed cuts are enacted, Merkowitz said, staffing could be reduced to approximately 1 1/2 employees.
“We have worked very hard to build up these programs,” Merkowitz said. “We realize that this is a difficult economy and we know the commissioners don’t enjoy making these cuts.”
Merkowitz said additional funding from the state right now is “out of the question.”
Ohio is currently debating an $851 million shortfall in its two-year budget for primary and secondary education.
Merkowitz said the office has been looking at additional grants and cost recovery programs, but nothing close to the $140,000 budget reduction. The office’s original proposed budget for 2010 was $223,092. The 2009 current budget reflects a reduction of approximately $30,000 from its $220,000 annual budget. “If these cuts are approved, we cannot possibly run the office anywhere close to what we’ve done in the past,” Merkowitz said.
* On Wednesday, commissioners met with Clinton County Administrator Dr. Mark Brooker, who sent a letter to the OSU Extension on behalf of Highland, Brown and Clinton counties.
In a letter dated Dec. 16 to Dr. Keith Smith, OSU Extension director, Brooker said, “It is with great concern that we write this letter regarding OSU Extension in our counties. The counties have supplied housing and paid for OSU Extension salaries for years. No input into the employee practices has ever been afforded to the supporting counties. Now, OSU Extension administration is asking for the counties to support OSU Extension at a level that we cannot afford. Brown, Clinton, and Highland counties have unemployment that is highest in the state. We have been devastated by the closure of the Wilmington Airpark, which sent 10,000 people to unemployment.
We cannot continue to support this process with OSU Extension at the level requested. We are cutting staff and reducing the hours of employees so that we can balance budgets for next year. It is imperative with the shrinking revenues that each county has experienced that counties approach the cost process by providing services on a regional basis so that the quality of service to our communities is unblemished. "Therefore, we request to know the cost to each of our counties for the following: Continue to support 4-H with the current 4-H staff person we each have.
Becky Cropper - Brown County
Tracy Montague - Clinton County
Libby McNeil - Highland County
Support one agricultural educator between all three counties.
Office staff support for each county.
"Once the cost to each county of the above has assimilated, the tri-county region requests a face to face meeting with you and your staff. At that time we can determine if the cost supplied are realistic for each of our counties in the next budget year. Due to the nature of the budgeting process, we request the costing and meeting with you and your staff take place yet this calendar year. We understand the short timeframe of this request but wish to finish the budget process before the end of the calendar year. Should you have any question regarding our request, please contact Dr.
Mark Brooker, County Administrator for Clinton County, at 937-383-1170.
Thank you in advance for your cooperation on this matter."[[In-content Ad]]