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Extension Services asks for staff and contract funding to sustain nutrition, 4-H and outreach programs
Summary
Extension Services requested overtime for event weeks, restoration of a 29-hour position to full time, continuation of a horticulture intern, and an 18 percent increase in USU-contracted hourly rates after state cuts to university funding.
An Extension Services representative told the County Commission the department is asking to restore and stabilize staff and service levels following recent state budget changes at Utah State University.
The presenter said the office currently has two county-funded full-time employees and requested modest operational increases: $800 to cover overtime for fair and family-camp weeks; modest postage and membership increases to serve a growing 4-H population; and an increase of $6,080 for travel and training so a second employee can attend the Tyler conference to back up financial duties.
The department also requested a roughly 18 percent per-hour increase in the USU professional/technical services contract to offset statewide cuts to USU that will eliminate one position that currently funds nutrition and low-income cooking education in the county. The presenter described that position's community work (Head Start visits, Boys & Girls Club, Title I after-school programming, senior cooking classes and community garden coordination) and asked the council to consider locally sustaining those services if the university funding is removed.
The presenter said she would supply participation counts and other requested details after the meeting. Council members asked about outreach channels; the presenter said roughly half of families hear about 4-H via social media and half via mailed notices and therefore requested one additional mailing annually to maintain reliable outreach for contest and livestock deadlines.
If funded as requested, the changes would keep current county employees and expand locally supported program hours rather than create new county-wide policy.
