Oneida County is considering eliminating the U-W Extension as a cost cutting move to put more money into other areas. That possibility drew a large crowd to a meeting this week.
The proposed contract is for $90,000. Earlier, another committee voted to not renew the contracts with UW-Extension personnel.
Committee Chair Bob Mott says when the other committee voted to not extend contracts with Extension, it gave them a call to defend why they should stay..
"...The committee, LRES, when they issued their non-renewal, suggested a proposal be made from Extension essentially defending itself. The cost of the (Extension) educators are partially paid by the county and partially paid by the state..."
Many people spoke in favor of retaining the Extension, including Three Lakes residents who are putting together a recovery plan following two devastating fires earlier this year. Mott says there was a broad base of support for the Extension. Mott says Extension's activity with various groups is often quiet but welcomed. Mott says there also is talk of moving the Extension offices from the airport to Nicolet College.
The Extension also is a key to bringing forward the Oneida County Fair and Mott says one proposal does away with funding..
"The proposal by the committee, one of the possibilities, is to cut the entire funding for the fair which is $16,000. One person I talked to said it's interesting that a little county like Florence county support a fair, the Extension and a lot of programs and we're looking to cutting them.."
County budget hearings are set for October and Mott suggested anyone interested in letting their thoughts be known should contact their county board member. Oneida county was the first county in the state to have an Extension agent, and Mott says Oneida county could be the first one to eliminate the program.
