Some extension funding to be restored

Wednesday, February 18, 2009

Governor Jay Nixon has restored some of the funding cuts he proposed for the University of Missouri Extension Service. Nixon originally proposed a 50 percent reduction, $15.5 million, but quick action by concerned citizens and their representatives has caused Nixon to re-evaluate the cuts according to state representative Barney Fisher.

The Associated Press noted Monday that it was Nixon's first budgetary reversal.

For the University of Missouri, Nixon sought to cut $14.6 million of the $28.3 million in state funds that the extension system receives. The state money comprises about 29 percent of the total $96.4 million university extension and continuing education program.

Lincoln University's extension program, which is considerably smaller, would have received a $803,440 cut under Nixon's budget proposal.

But university extension supporters said the cuts would have been devastating, resulting in the loss of federal research dollars, infringing on the university's mission and limiting educational opportunities for Missourians, the AP said.

Volunteer members of local county extension councils began contacting their legislators. At least one university instructor, using a personal e-mail account, urged former students to contact state officials to discuss the positive aspects of the extension programs.

Part of the sales pitch, according to materials from the university: Every $1 million spent on University of Missouri Extension programs generates an economic impact of $27.7 million and state and local tax revenues of $1.8 million.

After a couple weeks of opposition, Nixon announced Feb. 11 that he had found a way to redirect $10.1 million of surplus money from the construction of a women's prison in Chillicothe and thus reduce his recommended university extension cuts to $5.3 million.

"The university extension programs provide important services for Missourians, and I'm pleased that we have the opportunity to allocate additional resources to fund their work," Nixon said in a written statement.

"Governor Nixon originally said he wanted to cut $15.5 million from the University of Missouri budget, if you include Lincoln University, but we have restored most of that," Fisher said. "There's still a $5 million cut but I think we can get that back as well."

Leonard Ernsbarger, former youth specialist, said that it was a little more involved than just the Extension Service money.

"In reality when he cuts the Extension Service he's cutting funds from the University of Missouri and then the curators make the decisions," Ernsbarger said. "It's not a line item that he could cut, it's all part of the university budget."

The Extension Service would have lost more than 200 jobs if the cuts had remained as Nixon first proposed.

"There were 220 jobs affected and that would have sent ripples all across Missouri," Fisher said.

Fisher said that the Extension service was a valuable asset for the state and served residents from all areas of Missouri.

"I don't know but maybe Nixon is something of a city slicker and thought of it as only a rural service," Fisher said. "The Extension Service is important in rural areas but it provides help to residents in urban and suburban areas as well."

Fisher said that the legislature would continue to work to restore the whole amount of funding.

"I spoke to the speaker of the house and he said that we will do everything we can to restore the whole amount," Fisher said. "They won't get an increase but at least they should stay at the same level.

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