Amador County – Amador County Supervisors reconsidered funding for the University of California Cooperative Extension office on Tuesday, then agreed to leave the funding in place.

Supervisor Chairman John Plasse said reconsideration of the UCCE’s $154,000 budget approval was brought about only to see if the same funds could be used more efficiently to offer the same programs locally, and to help to retain local jobs. He said it came about after serious budget issues emerged, when county employees voted to return to 40-hour work-weeks.

In a conversation with County Administrative Officer Chuck Iley, Plasse said it meant the county faced potential layoffs for 17-18 employees, and even after that would still face a $200,000 deficit.

Plasse said he thought they could try to hire local employees to deliver those same services, and see if the UCCE was “not the only program that can provide support for those services.”

Supervisor Brian Oneto was worried about “misinformation put forth” saying he “or the board did not support ag in the county. It’s very incorrect.” Supervisor Ted Novelli said it was presented by UCCE that there would be a loss of a county employee, and local funds would go to UCCE, so the board looked into whether it was worth doing the programs internally.

Cooperative Extension Director Scott Oneto said “we’re not here to strong-arm the county and say, pay the $150,000 or we will get out.” He said it is a very important piece of the UCCE budget, “and without that, our partnership falls apart.”

He said they had two county employees, a full time 4-H coordinator, and a part-time clerical. They eliminated the clerical position, to consolidate administrative work in El Dorado County, the main office of the four-county Region. Scott Oneto said they also looked at laying off the coordinator, and replacing him with a locally hired Cooperative employee.

4-H Coordinator Larry Fossen, is retiring next year, so they put off that plan. Fossen told supervisors that the University did a good job setting up the reorganization, and it will help Amador County. He said centralized paperwork frees up his time to develop programs. Fossen monitors, manages, and administrates, and an “academic advisor” looks to help supplement local staff and needs.”

Fossen said: “I do support and I do appreciate that reorganization, and the way it’s going, it will improve the program.”

Scores in attendance included half a dozen kids in 4-H scarves, and the colored shirts of Master Gardeners, two of the groups that are under the Extension’s umbrella. No action by Supervisors left the funding in place for the year, with Supervisors agreeing to look at how programs are handled through the year and see if any changes occur.

Story by Jim Reece This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.