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Madison County approves 2026 contract with UGA Extension; commissioners OK county portion of salary and training increases
Summary
The Madison County Board of Commissioners voted to approve the county's 2026 contract with the University of Georgia Cooperative Extension, covering a modest increase in salary costs and a $450 rise in the office's training and dues budget to cover association fees and state-level conferences.
The Madison County Board of Commissioners approved a 2026 contract with the University of Georgia Cooperative Extension on Aug. 11, authorizing the county's share of salary and program costs for Extension staff.
The contract covers a salary increase tied to Teachers Retirement System employer rates and a county request to increase the Extension office's dues and training budget by $450: $50 for dues and $400 for education and training to help cover registration fees for state association conferences. Travis Anchorsley, UGA Extension agent, told commissioners the $50 dues increase would bring individual association dues to $350 and that the $400 training increase would “cover the registration cost for all 3 agents, not including hotel mileage or anything.”
Commissioners discussed how the county's share is only part of total training costs and that one UGA position (shared with Oglethorpe County) draws partial funding from the neighboring county. Commissioners also raised uncertainty tied to state-level changes: the Teachers Retirement System rate cited in the presentation rises from 20.78% to 21.91% and staff noted another planned July 1 increase to 22.32% that could affect future budgets. Commissioners asked staff to continue communication with district and UGA contacts if additional state direction alters the cost picture.
Chair requested a motion to approve. The motion to approve the contract was made by Commissioner Adams and seconded by Commissioner Kurtz; commissioners proceeded to approve the contract during the meeting.
The approval covers the county's portion of salary and benefit increases and the modest line-item additions for dues and training. Commissioners and Extension staff said they will track any further state decisions that affect retirement contributions and report back to the board if the county needs to amend the contract or budget.
Details: the county's budgeted increase for the salaries portion was described in the meeting as $2,021 (county portion). The dues increase would raise each agent's dues to $350; education/training would add $400 to the office budget to help offset registration fees for association conferences.
