Extension office budget steady; Master Gardener programs and annex learning garden discussed
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Summary
The county extension agent presented a small, mostly unchanged budget. The judge and staff discussed plans for learning gardens at the annex and said the extension expects to use existing funds for benches and infrastructure; Master Gardener programming remains active and will use available budget lines.
The Rockwall County extension agent presented a modest, mostly unchanged FY2026 budget at the June 25 workshop and described programming priorities including Master Gardener outreach and plans for learning gardens near the annex.
The agent told commissioners that the office is a state/county partnership: state funding covers the agent's salary while the county supplements office operations, staff and program costs. The agent said some budgeted amounts for this year remain available and that staff will use those funds for learning-garden benches and infrastructure when the annex landscaping is completed.
Commissioners and the agent discussed how Master Gardener volunteers and beekeeping contacts operate in the county; the agent said much programming is now multi-county to ensure sufficient attendance and that outreach continues despite shrinking production agriculture acreage. The agent asked commissioners to consider whether the part-time office manager should move to full time in a future budget cycle; the court indicated that would be a future discussion rather than an immediate change.
No formal action was taken; staff will continue preparing the annex learning garden memorandum of understanding and budgeted purchases for infrastructure items such as benches and compost.
