Richland County extension committee approves staffing reductions, recommends referendum inclusion

Richland County’s Extension Committee on Oct. 12 voted to reduce staff hours to generate roughly $37,010 in savings and recommended the changes be placed on a county referendum.

The committee approved a motion to eliminate the office’s part‑time support position and to reduce the 4‑H educator position from full time to 85% time. Committee members calculated the two-item package would save approximately $37,009.59 annually and directed staff to forward the recommended reductions to the county’s finance and referendum committees for inclusion in the county’s broader budget and referendum planning.

The vote came after more than an hour of discussion about alternative cost‑cutting plans, the difficulty of recruiting and retaining employees if hours or pay are cut, and whether cuts should target single positions or be spread more evenly. Committee members repeatedly said they wanted cuts that would be reversible by a successful referendum rather than permanent eliminations when possible.

Committee members asked staff to provide clearer cost estimates and implementation steps before the changes would take effect. Committee discussion cited the possibility of sharing reduced‑time positions with neighboring counties as a mitigation strategy and noted changes to employee premiums and take‑home pay for staff whose hours or benefits would be altered.

The committee recorded a roll call during the final vote; multiple members voted yes and the motion passed. The committee then adopted a second, related motion recommending the reduced‑cost items be placed on the referendum. That recommendation passed with two members voting no and the remainder in favor.

The committee’s recommendation is advisory; any referendum placement and final budget decisions rest with the county board and finance staff. Committee members said they expect follow‑up materials — including precise dollar figures, drafts of referendum language, and implementation timelines — prior to any final placement on a ballot.

Clarifying details in committee documents show the savings estimate was constructed from line items on a previously distributed reduction-options worksheet and staffing cost models. Committee staff indicated the single part‑time support position shown for elimination carried estimated annual savings of roughly $30,127; the 4‑H reduction from 100% to 85% was estimated to save roughly $7,832, together totaling approximately $37,010.

The committee asked staff to prepare a more detailed communication for employees and the public, and to identify whether any of the recommended reductions would change eligibility for employee benefits. Those impact details were not finalized at the meeting.

The committee plans to reconvene on Nov. 14 and to provide the referendum committee with the recommended reductions and supporting materials.