Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Uw Extension Finances Programs topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Adams County UW–Extension reports FoodWIse phase‑out after SNAP‑Ed cut; committee seeks clearer budget reporting
Summary
The UW–Extension area director told the committee that the federal elimination of SNAP‑Ed funding is phasing out the FoodWIse program and prompted staff departures; committee members asked for clearer budget line‑item reporting that shows payees or position titles. Extension staff also highlighted local trainings and child care systems work.
At the Nov. 4 meeting of the Adams County Land and Water and UW–Extension Committee, the UW–Extension area director summarized local programming, reported staff departures tied to the loss of SNAP‑Ed funds and answered committee questions about financial reporting.
The area director said FoodWIse is being phased out after ‘‘the SNAP Ed funds were eliminated in our federal government.’’ The director noted that ‘‘Angela DeSmith's last day was last Friday. Sharon Volkening Wolf, her last day will be the November,’’ and said the county will lose capacity to provide local nutrition education services.
The director also described other local Extension activities: child care systems mapping to address a county child care shortage, youth development through 4‑H programming and statewide events, a community health worker assisting residents in finding services, and a regional livestock educator’s work including a PELTER (Planning Emergency Livestock Transportation Response) course designed to train emergency responders on handling livestock in accidents.
Budget transparency questions: Committee members raised several questions about the Extension budget worksheet, asking who the funds for lodging, meals and travel are paid to and which employee positions are covered. One committee member said the line items were ‘‘just vague’’ and asked that future reports include clearer identification of payees or position titles so that citizens can more easily understand how tax dollars are spent.
Staff response: The area director and a virtual finance director said the budget worksheet ties expenses to department worksheets and that detailed payee and position information appears in the budget book and is available from the finance office. The director suggested that committee members who want itemized records can contact the finance director or request open‑records materials.
Training and partnership highlights: The director described a recent statewide PELTER training led by the county’s regional livestock educator, which trained about 20 people and covered field‑specific animal handling and emergency response procedures. The director also noted collaboration on strategic planning and community development efforts within Adams County.
What’s next: Committee members asked staff to consider making budget summaries easier for the public to navigate, for example by consolidating categories (for example, ‘‘travel expenses’’) and listing the titles of positions that typically use those line items. Staff said detailed position counts and payee information are available in the budget book and via the finance director.
