Highland County/OSU Extension looking at major budget reductions
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By RORY RYAN
The Highland County Press
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.[[In-content Ad]]
The Highland County Press
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.[[In-content Ad]]