Carrie Edgar, representing UW–Madison Extension, told the Dane County Land and Water Committee that the department’s 2026 budget request totals about $1,600,000, including a $1,500,000 general purpose revenue (GPR) request and approximately $121,600 in program and grant revenues.

The request includes three decision items, Edgar said: an annual increase to the county’s purchase‑of‑service contract that cofunds county extension educators, a set of reductions to meet a mandated 4% GPR cut, and a small internal reallocation of an educator phone expense. "There was just, right at a 3% increase for salary and fringe for that contract," Edgar said, adding that the contract increase amounted to about $40,000. To meet the 4% GPR reduction target the department adjusted multiple line items and estimated a net GPR reduction of roughly $61,200.

Edgar told the committee extension expects higher program revenue in 2026. "For the last 3 years, we have significantly gone over what we had budgeted for program revenue," Edgar said, noting a program revenue increase of roughly $34,500. She attributed part of the increase to virtual programming that draws participants from across Wisconsin and beyond, not only Dane County residents. When a supervisor asked for clarification, Edgar said virtual offerings have brought participants from across the Upper Midwest and nationally and that pre‑COVID program revenue levels of $80,000–$90,000 per year have begun to return.

Committee members asked follow‑up questions about the program revenue increase and the department’s adjustments; no committee action or vote on the extension request occurred at the meeting. The committee chair reminded speakers that formal amendments would be presented and voted on at the committee’s next budget meeting, scheduled for Oct. 22, and that additional amendments could still be submitted before that vote.