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Supervisors question Cooperative Extension water projects and set budget work sessions
Summary
Supervisors asked for clearer reporting on University of Arizona Cooperative Extension water projects (listed at $99,000) and the county's longstanding agricultural extension support (about $87,000). The board scheduled follow-up budget work sessions in May and June to review revenue projections and department requests.
Cochise County supervisors pressed staff for clearer detail about Cooperative Extension and water-conservation projects the county funds and scheduled targeted budget work sessions to review revenue projections and department funding requests.
Board staff identified two recurring lines: a water-projects allocation for Cooperative Extension (noted in meeting materials at $99,000) and a separate longstanding agricultural-extension contribution commonly billed at about $87,000. Supervisors said they wanted an annual report or invoice from the University of Arizona Cooperative Extension showing what the county receives for those dollars. Several supervisors said programs and outreach have narrowed in recent years and requested that the extension provide a clear accounting of activities and geography served.
Staff said the water-program funding supports programs such as low-flow toilet rebates and local water-conservation outreach. Supervisors observed the toilet-rebate program had low take-up compared with earlier years and asked staff to explain current program activity. One supervisor said some extension classes previously offered in Douglas had been discontinued and that events now appeared concentrated in Sierra Vista.
Budget process and schedule: staff told the board a work session on county funding requests and revenue projections was scheduled for Wednesday, May 14, when consolidated department requests and market compensation data will be presented. The board discussed additional public budget meetings in June (dates discussed included June 10, June 14 and June 18 in the session) and reiterated the statutory deadline that the budget be in place by July 1. Supervisors outlined an approach to produce a draft with proposed cuts (for example, a 6 percent cut across-line items) and invite departments and the public to argue why specific lines should be restored.
Ending: Staff will obtain invoices and program reports from Cooperative Extension and provide them to the board ahead of the May 14 work session; no formal funding changes were adopted at the meeting.
