Legislature helps fund USU programs: Extension receives $300,000
Utah State University’s Extension program received $300,000 from the Legislature to be used in next year’s budget.
Vice President Jack Payne said his program plans to use the money, in part, to try to fill 22 open positions in counties throughout the state and on campus.
Associate Vice President Chuck Gay said the money will also go toward trying to reinstate some core programs and fund things such as the Veterinary Diagnostic Laboratory on campus.
Gay said Extension used to support other labs, and wishes it still could, but he thinks the money will only go far enough to reach the diagnostic lab.
“It was great that I was able to get that money,” Payne said. “I will be able to fill some positions now that have been doubled up.”
Payne said he has some people who have been covering multiple counties. The budget has been so low in the past few years that the program hasn’t had the means to fill positions left open because of retirements, he said.
Gay said there hasn’t been an absolute decision yet on the exact allocation for the money.
“We’ll get leadership together soon and go through the budgeting process,” he said.
Gay is sure the money won’t stretch to fill all 22 open positions but said he and his colleagues will push it as far as possible.
Payne said he thinks this is the first time in about 10 years Extension has gotten additional money from the Legislature. He said in fiscal year 2002, Extension had a budget cut of $294,000. In FY 2003 it had to cut $502,000, and in FY 2004, it will have to cut $205,000.
So, receiving $300,000 doesn’t quite make up for the $1 million cut over the past three years, but every little bit counts, he said.
Extension made a presentation asking for $500,000 to the higher-education committee during the legislative session this year, Gay said.
Although Extension only got 60 percent of what it wanted, the leaders are very grateful, Gay said.
“It’s a real vindication of our value and relevance,” he said. “It reflects the importance and value of the university.”
Both Gay and Payne acknowledged that since Extension is one of the few programs at USU to get additional funding, they were especially appreciative.
Payne said the $300,000 from the state would be available July 1.
–emilieholmes@cc.usu.edu