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Geary County Extension asks for 7% budget increase; fair board requests flat funding
Summary
Geary County Extension requested $390,500 — about a 7% increase — citing vehicle and program-support needs; the Geary County Fair Board asked the commission to maintain its current allocation for next year.
Geary County Extension proposed a $390,500 operating budget for the coming year — roughly a 7% increase — and asked commissioners to consider the request during the county’s budget process. The presenter highlighted two main drivers of the rise: equipment costs tied to replacing a 16‑year‑old transport van and higher program support costs.
The presenter said the equipment line rose by an estimated 24% to help replace the aging van used to transport youth to 4‑H events and other Extension activities. Program support and educational materials were described as the other major increase, with the presenter citing a roughly 26% rise (about $3,000) to preserve low‑cost or free programming such as Medicare counseling and SNAP‑Ed partnerships.
The Extension representative told commissioners the office estimates it reaches about 4,200 people annually through direct programming and about 20,000 indirectly through outreach. The presenter also noted this year marks the Extension’s 100th anniversary in Geary County and thanked commissioners for past support.
Commissioners asked whether federal SNAP‑Ed funding cuts would affect local services. The Extension representative said two SNAP‑Ed agents are housed adjacent to the Extension office and that SNAP‑Ed funding comes from a federal grant; they said the program had been put on alert and they expected to know more after July 5 about next year’s funding. The presenter added the SNAP‑Ed grant included “well over a $100,000” in services but that the county’s Extension budget request is separate from that federal funding.
The Fair Board’s presenter asked the commission to keep the board’s allocation flat. The presenter said the fair’s request remains unchanged from recent years and described how carryover and volunteer labor helped cover costs during the COVID years, noting last year’s repairs to the beef barn roof had been paid from savings. The fair dates were announced as July 20–24 for the coming season.
Commissioners responded with appreciation for the Extension’s services and thanked the Fair Board for its volunteers. No formal vote or decision on either request was recorded at the work session.
The Extension and fair budget presentations will be considered as part of the county’s overall 2026 budget process.
