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Park County approves FY26 extension services agreement with Montana State University
Summary
The Park County Board of Commissioners unanimously approved the FY26 extension services agreement with Montana State University Extension on Dec. 2, ensuring four extension agents remain contracted locally and clarifying payment and indemnification language to be finalized with MSU counsel.
The Park County Board of Commissioners voted Dec. 2 to approve the FY26 extension services agreement with Montana State University Extension, securing contracts for four local MSU extension agents.
Mary Ann Keith of the MSU Extension office summarized the standard, statewide contract form and its purpose: "This is the yearly county agreement that allows the 4 MSU Extension agents to be contracted here," she said, adding that some contract language (notably indemnification and the precise term phrasing) may be refined by MSU legal counsel.
The agreement was presented after county finance staff clarified how payments are processed. "We keep paying the same amount from the prior year until we get this new agreement, and then they send us an invoice that goes back to July 1," Erica in the finance department explained. Keith also noted a 90-day opt-out clause is included should either party terminate the contract.
Commissioners discussed the longstanding county contribution formula for extension agents: the traditional formula references two-thirds of the clerk and recorder's base salary, but MSU caps the county contribution at $39,000 for a position when that formula would produce a higher figure. "If that number is below $39,000 that's the county's contribution; if it's above, MSU has capped it at that $39,000 level," Keith said, describing how Park County's contribution is calculated under the current arrangement.
Commissioner Vermillion moved to sign the FY26 extension services agreement; Commissioner Story seconded. The motion carried unanimously.
Why it matters: the agreement keeps local extension services (4‑H, agriculture, family and consumer sciences, and other county programming) funded and on a predictable year-to-year contract schedule, while clarifying administrative details such as invoicing retroactivity and indemnification language that will be handled through MSU counsel.
The commission took no additional action on contract wording at the meeting; staff indicated they will work with MSU legal counsel if commissioners request specific changes before final execution.
