Amador County – Amador County Supervisors considered defunding the University of California Cooperative Extension office last week, then agreed to leave the funding in place, and check the programs after a year.
Cooperative Extension Regional Director Scott Oneto said “this is about cooperation.” The 1913 Smith Cleaver Act brought local communities together, with land grants, and university resources to study cutting edge agricultural methods, and “bring that technology to the community.” Federally based, he said, “we are the conduit,” echoing what Supervisor Chairman John Plasse in a more critical tone, when he introducing the proposed reconsideration and apparent ultimatum.
Plasse wasn’t sure if it was the only way to get funding for various programs. He and the other supervisors said they should check out the reorganization for another year, and see if the ultimatum returns, and if services are affected.
Oneto said the $154,000 the County puts forward is a “very important piece to our budget,” and “without that 16 percent, our partnership falls apart.” Reorganization will remove one of two county employees, a part-time clerical post. The other will become an academic University of California position, to interact with academics and with the community, replacing 4-H Coordinator Larry Fossen, after he retires next year.
The federally funded academic post would do county research, and be a new youth development advisor. Supervisor Richard Forster said: “We have not had this. Why do we need it now?” Oneto said it is to make sure they have an academic at the college working with academics locally. Forster said “sometimes it can do more harm than good,” and this is not big city 4-H. He said the new coordinator would need to be familiar with the rural level.
Supervisor Ted Novelli asked Oneto to elaborate on cuts they keep hearing about in UCCE. Scott Oneto said: “We can’t get any leaner than we are.” So they will pool resources in Amador, El Dorado, Calaveras and Tuolumne Counties, where programs and needs are quite similar, and “there is no reason we can’t provide the same services in Amador without the extra work. We may add some resources, but we may be draining some of the resources that we already have.”
The main, administrative office will be in El Dorado. Satellite offices in the other counties will be staffed part- or full-time. Scott Oneto said “we will have a stronger presence in making sure that we are meeting needs.”
Farm Bureau District 14 Director Jim Spinetta urged Supervisors to “please continue funding” Cooperative Extension. He said agriculture is the nation’s number 1 employer, and the $154,000 “pulls together $891,000,” giving Amador a 450 percent return.
Supervisor Brian Oneto said he would like to be on the selection committee for the new hire.
Story by Jim Reece This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
