Commissioners approve five-year administrative agreement with Marion County 4-H Extension Service District

Marion County commissioners on Wednesday approved a five-year agreement under which the county will continue to provide administrative and financial services to the Marion County 4‑H Extension Service District.

Kelly Weese, Marion County community services director, told commissioners the agreement is a renewal of an existing contract and would be effective July 1, 2025, through June 30, 2030. Under the terms described, the district will pay the county 5% of the annual levy amount to cover county administrative support; of that 5%, county staff will allocate 60% to the Community Services Department and 20% each to Business Services and Finance.

Weese said the allocation means roughly 60% of the administrative fee portion will fund Community Services staff who administer district programs, 20% will fund Business Services support and 20% Finance support. Commissioners asked clarifying questions during the discussion about how the five-percent administrative fee is allocated across departments.

Commissioner (unnamed) moved approval of the incoming funds intergovernmental agreement with the Marion County 4‑H Extension Service District to establish terms for administrative, professional and technical services effective July 1, 2025, through June 30, 2030. A second was recorded and the motion passed by voice vote.

Weese told the board the current contract had been extended in June 2020 for an additional five-year term and would otherwise expire; the board had acted in its role as the district board earlier in May to approve the proposed renewal. The presentation did not include a dollar amount for the district levy; Weese described the county’s share as a percentage of the levy rather than a set dollar amount.

The board approved the agreement by voice vote.