Council questions Purdue Extension contract increase and regional service model

A councilor (speaker 15) summarized the Purdue Extension contract change and raised questions about what Delaware County would receive for the additional cost. He said the proposed contract for 2027 appeared to total a little over $200,000; in 2026 the line was roughly $100,000 but county employees previously classified as county employees are now Purdue employees under an extension regional model, adding approximately $55,000 in salary and benefits to Purdue's tab.

That shift, he said, effectively increased the county's regional-share fee and left unanswered questions about the services tied to the $45,000 delta. The councilor asked staff to clarify the deliverables and consequences if the county did not fund the additional amount.