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Gage County approves interlocal agreement shifting Extension staff to university employment
Summary
The Gage County Board of Supervisors on Jan. 22 approved an interlocal agreement with Nebraska Extension that will make local Extension employees university (Regents) employees starting in April; board members were told the change should simplify human-resources oversight and preserve 4‑H programming.
Gage County supervisors voted unanimously Jan. 22 to approve an interlocal agreement with Nebraska Extension that will transfer local Extension office employees to university employment.
The move, approved 7-0 on a motion by Supervisor Emily Haxby and second by Dorn, was described by Dave Arner of Extension Administration as a step that "makes HR personnel much cleaner" by placing Extension staff under university supervision rather than county employment. Arner, who said three counties in Nebraska have already chosen this option, told the board the arrangement was an option offered by the University Board of Regents.
The nut of the agreement, county officials said, is to clarify supervision and payroll while keeping the county responsible for building maintenance and some operating expenses. Board discussion noted the county will continue to pay for building-related costs and some local expenditures but that the new arrangement will make it clearer which costs are paid by county funds. Supervisor Emily Haxby said the change will also avoid a difficult personnel transition after the county employee in that post left, allowing a new hire to be onboarded directly by the university.
Extension staff provided the board a three-column budget outline showing remaining fiscal-year funds and two staffing scenarios for next year. The packet showed about $15,000 remaining in the current support-staff line; a new administrative hire starting in April was estimated to cost a little more than $9,000 for the remainder of this fiscal year. Extension staff said the proposed budget already includes a new copier at $9,700.
Board members pressed about local office hours and continuity of services. Lisa (Nebraska Extension) and other Extension staff told the board the office has remained open since the recent staffing change, with one planned afternoon closure for statewide training; they said they will try to maintain regular local service while the university hires the administrative position. "We are working on that and we're gonna try to maintain office continuation as much as possible," an Extension representative said.
The board and Extension staff also discussed auditing and expense reporting. County officials said the interlocal wording explicitly lists allowable county expenditures — maintenance, utilities, office supplies, phone service and equipment — to meet auditor expectations.
The board approved the agreement and the chair said it would be signed the same day.
The vote: motion to approve the interlocal Cooperative Extension Services agreement, mover Emily Haxby, second Dorn; tally 7 yes, 0 no. No amendments were recorded.
Ending: County officials said they will work with Extension on budget details ahead of the July budget cycle and that the agreement should take effect with university hires in April.
