News
Ball says MSU Extension funding might be in danger at state level
Email this story | Print this story
Friday, October 23, 2009 10:46 PM EDT
The future of Michigan State University Extension, a century-old statewide outreach network that helps educate farmers, community leaders and children, could be in jeopardy of a complete funding cut by Gov. Jennifer Granholm, Rep. Dick Ball said today.
These talks come just after Shiawassee County began considering eliminating funding for the local MSU Extension office in an attempt to reduce its 2010 budget by about $2.1 million.
Ball said Granholm's administration withheld the MSU Extension's state appropriation payment for October and he is concerned that could be a sign of her vetoing funding for the Extension, as well as the university's 14 Michigan Agricultural Experiment Station facilities throughout the state.
“Two weeks ago the Legislature successfully defeated the governor's proposal to diminish the Department of Agriculture by rolling it in with the natural resources and environment agency,” said Ball, R-Bennington Township. “Her latest ploy not only would harm the agriculture families and businesses that rely on the Extension for the latest research from the university, but also communities and organizations that call on the local offices for economic development, youth programming and other area collaborative projects.”
In Shiawassee County, Administrator Margaret McAvoy recommended making the Extension cut, among other reductions, earlier this month.
Monday, the Shiawassee County Board of Commissioners requested McAvoy find a way to continue funding the program during its Finance and Administration committee meeting.
The MSU Extension office of Shiawassee County requested $108,534 from the county next year. But Shiawassee County MSU Extension Director Joe Bixler offered another option that would require only $34,866 from the county.
“That proposal included a three-day-a-week operation,” Bixler said. “In other words, if we receive the $34,866 we could only be open three days a week. If we receive less than that it is likely we would not have hours open to the public...
“It may be possible to have one day a week. ... We're able to talk about lesser dollars, we don't want to, but we would be willing to. The operation certainly will be changed a great deal, even at (about $35,000).”
MSU Extension receives 13 percent of its funds from the federal government; 28 percent from counties and 16 percent from outside grants.
In July, House Republicans submitted a plan that used reforms and federal stimulus money to restructure the state government within available revenue, with no tax increase for state residents, according to Ball. That plan includes a 50 percent reduction of 2009-10 MSU Extension funding.
“Everyone recognizes Michigan has been in tough economic shape and painful adjustments are necessary across the board, including the Extension program,” Ball said. “For the governor to consider completely zeroing out a key resource that plays a crucial role in building a strong future for our agriculture industry and community development is reckless and wrongheaded.”
Bixler said funding for MSU Extension is part of the higher education bill currently on Granholm's desk.
“We are a separate line item in that,” Bixler said. “The funding is broken up into 56 percent from the state's general fund and 44 percent of federal stimulus money. She could decide to veto the entire line item, or she could veto just the 56 percent.”
He said any cuts could have dire consequences.
“What it means for us in Shiawassee County is we close our doors,” Bixler said.
The foundation of the Extension began in 1907 when Michigan State College hired its first livestock field agent. Within five years, the Michigan Legislature authorized expansion of the program leading to 11 agriculture agents. In 1914, Congress created the Cooperative Extension System and its oversight was assigned to land grant universities.
MSU Extension consists of offices in all 83 Michigan counties and sponsors programs such as the 4-H Youth Program, the Master Gardener and Master Woodland Manager programs, the Citizen Planner Program and others.
Pam Johnson wrote on Oct 26, 2009 9:04 AM: