State contemplates elimination of funding for MSU Extension and 4-H

The possible elimination of state funding for Michigan State University Extension has some local workers wondering about their future employment and area residents concerned about the possible loss of a valuable community asset. Gov. Jennifer Granholm recently introduced 19 line items as options to be cut to balance the budget, which she has to do according to state law. Of those 19, MSU Extension, 4-H, and the Michigan Agricultural Experiment Station are on the list for a looming Executive Order.

?Those are the three things that were introduced…so obviously there is a lot of concern on our part, and extension?s part,? said Dave Glenn, PI MSU Extension director. If the Executive Order takes away the $28.6 million for MSU Extension, which employs 1,200 in the state, 19 local staff, including five fulltime workers, could be out of work, and the county office at the courthouse in Rogers City could be closed.

?I would assume with an executive order that would be fairly immediate,? Glenn said. ?Come January 1, or sometime after January, we would all be closing our offices.?

RESOLUTIONS AND LETTERS of support have been adopted by the cities of Onaway and Rogers City, as well as the county board of commissioners within the last seven days, urging the governor to consider other options. MSU Extension was established as a three-way partnership between federal, state and local governments. The $28.6 million from state appropriations is coupled with about $10 million in county and local funds, and more than $21 million in grants. The state?s $28.6 million contribution leverages an additional $50 million. The arrangement supports faculty on campus and Extension educators in every county in Michigan.

?Without the state?s investment, the partnership supporting Extension would collapse and the state?s land-grant education programs would end,? Glenn said. The resolutions and letter, are expected be forwarded to Granholm, State Rep. Matt Gillard, and State Sen. Jason Allen.

GLENN HAS been sending letters to local government and constituent grou

ps who have benefited from, or have been a part, of 4-H and MSU Extension, to encourage them to send their opinions to the governor and state legislators who will make the final decisions. There were two immediate positions that will not be filled because of the threatened cut. Glenn said he was to have interviews for the 4-H position last Friday but had to cancel them because of the budget crisis. ?If we don?t get cut entirely, we figure we are still going to get a percentage cut,? said Glenn. One position in MSU Extension which was to be rehired after the first of the year has now been put on hold indefinitely.

?So, if we have a stay of execution here, and just get a percentage cut, we could possibly still lose two positions out of this county,? he said. Glenn said contacts to Lansing need to be made as soon as possible, as the governor will announce her plans for cuts in the coming weeks.