Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Community Services topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
University of Maine Cooperative Extension seeks 4% county funding increase; commissioners weigh legal obligation
Summary
Carrie Chastain, executive director for extension operations, asked the county for a 4% (about $3,000) budget increase for the Hancock County Extension office; commissioners discussed a gray area in the county's legal obligation to fund extension services and the program’s leverage of outside funds.
Carrie Chastain, executive director for extension operations with the University of Maine Cooperative Extension, presented a budget request seeking a 4% increase (approximately $3,000) to support day-to-day operations of the Hancock County Extension office and continued local programming. She told commissioners the county-supported office helps residents access statewide and federal extension services and that local funding leverages additional external funds: "for every dollar invested within Hancock County, you're getting the benefit of just over, I believe, $12 of support backwards that's provided from other entities."
Commissioners asked whether the county is legally obligated to fund the extension; S2 said the question has been raised in prior meetings and described a gray area in statute and local practice. Commissioners agreed staff and the budget advisory committee would review the request and that extension representatives would be prepared to present to the BAC or full commission in September.
