Cornell Cooperative Extension asks Ulster County for 3% increase as federal grants shrink

Melanie Forstrom, executive director of Cornell Cooperative Extension in Ulster County, asked the county legislature’s Economic Development committee on Aug. 5 for a 3% increase in the county appropriation for 2026 to maintain operations and staff purchasing power. Forstrom said the request is intended as a cost‑of‑living adjustment to prevent salary erosion and to sustain critical local programming while the extension pursues longer‑term diversification of its revenue streams.

Forstrom reminded legislators that CCE’s relationship with county government and with Cornell University is established in County Law 224, which defines the association’s purpose and statutory relationship. She credited the legislature’s prior increase, saying the county allocation ticked up after the 2024 change. However, Forstrom warned of shrinking federal…