Reno County Extension Office asks for $35,000 increase to restore service capacity

The Reno County Extension Office presented two budget requests for 2019: a $35,000 request (about 10%) to maintain current program levels and a $100,000 request to restore a fifth agent dedicated to youth and school-enrichment programs.

Extension staff explained the program has produced a high volume of school-enrichment requests (about 300 annually) and that hiring another youth-focused agent would free existing agents to maintain traditional 4-H programming. The office said it has used carryover reserves to cover staffing gaps and that state funding to extension offices has been reduced, leaving limited ability to continue absorbing costs. The presenter described partnerships with local schools, Boys & Girls Club, the Nature Center and Sedgwick County (which hired a STEM agent) and said the fifth position would focus on Ag-STEM and youth outreach.

Commissioners generally expressed support for the $35,000 increase as a first-step solution but asked for a specific job description for the fifth agent, clarification on duplication with other agencies (e.g., Department of Aging), and details on where the new staff would be based within the county. One commissioner said a modest cost-of-living increase for county employees may be a higher-level priority, and another noted the extensions proposed $100,000 ask likely would require additional taxing capacity.

Why it matters: extension programs provide youth education, agricultural outreach and community services that many commissioners said they value. Commissioners asked staff for additional details to inform any larger staffing decision.