County notifies WSU Extension of intent to change funding level for 2026

County staff told commissioners Tuesday they will place a notice on next week’s consent agenda informing WSU Extension that the county intends to continue a partnership under a new agreement beginning Jan. 1, 2026, but at a reduced funding level. The draft letter says the existing agreement will conclude at year end and that a new agreement will reflect "a reduced funding level that aligns with the county's fiscal priorities while supporting the viable service provided by the extension office." Staff asked that the notice be on the consent agenda before Oct. 1 to comply with the current annual-agreement notice requirement.

Meeting participants said WSU Extension leadership has been part of ongoing conversations and that the reduction is not a surprise. Staff described several contract-structure options that could reduce county outlays, including converting certain positions to reimbursable billing to a capped amount rather than a flat annual payment; staff noted, for example, that a recently retired director position might be billed for only part of the year if the county moves to a reimbursable-to-cap structure. The county and WSU have been discussing a funding range for 2026 and staff said they will present revised details to the board and to outside agencies in the coming weeks.

No formal change to the funding amount was adopted at the briefing. Staff will return with specific contract language and funding levels and outside agencies will be scheduled to present as part of the budget process.