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University of Idaho extension requests 5.6% county funding increase; staff pay and grants highlighted
Summary
University of Idaho extension representatives requested a 5.6% increase to the county-funded portion of their FY26 budget (about $8,700), citing staff market-rate shortfalls, a recent fringe-rate reduction and ongoing programming including 4-H, forestry, Master Gardener and family consumer sciences.
University of Idaho extension staff asked Kootenai County commissioners on March 18 to approve a modest increase in the county’s FY26 contribution to local extension operations.
Rusty Gause, representing the University of Idaho Cooperative Extension in Kootenai County, said the office is requesting a 5.6% increase in county funding for FY26. “So overall, it’s just a 5.6% increase in the budget from last year is what we’re requesting,” Gause said. County staff clarified that the dollar amount of the requested increase is $8,700, not a larger sum.
Gause said the request primarily supports salary adjustments to bring county-funded positions closer to market rates; he estimated current pay is about 89% of market and noted the university’s broader effort to reach 100% after a campus market analysis. He also said the university’s fringe benefit rate fell from about 40.1% to 36.7%, producing some savings that the office redirected toward wages.
Shelly Johnson, who serves as the county chair for the extension program, described program activity at the office’s new location at 1250 Ironwood, including family and consumer sciences nutrition programming that targets lower-income families, forestry work, Master Gardener activities and 4-H youth programming. Johnson said the office is filling a recently vacated 4-H program coordinator position and noted that some extension positions are paid directly by the university rather than by county funds.
Gause told commissioners that the extension produces impact statements and that, on average, the office sees roughly a $4.50 return to the community for every $1 of county investment, acknowledging that return varies year to year. Commissioners did not take an immediate vote but said the request will be included in broader budget deliberations; they also invited extension staff to host an open house or in-person tour and asked for periodic impact updates.
The campus-funded and grant-funded elements of extension programming remain in place, and Gause said the office will continue to seek grant revenue to offset county costs. The commissioners did not make an immediate appropriation and will consider the requested increase during the county budget process.
