KALKASKA, MI -- At a commission meeting Wednesday night, the Kalkaska County Board of Commissioners decided to rework their budget and fund the Michigan State Extension Office through 2011.
On January 3, MSU Extension and the Soil Conservation District were cut from the 2011 budget. However, thanks to a new deal, commissioners found room in their budget for MSU extension.
“MSU offered there reorganization plan…to us for 2011. It’s a new structure, 4-H appears to benefit greatly from it, and it is a lower cost to our county,” said Commission Chairman Mike Cox. It will cost the county $82,559 to fund the Extension Office this year. That is $20,000 less than previously projected.
Wednesday’s commission meeting was well attended. In fact, so many people showed up they had to host it at the Kalkaska Kaliseum. Most of the people in attendance were there in support of the 4-H Program, which is a service of MSU Extension.
As for the Soil Conservation District, they are still being left out of the 2011 budget. Commissioners said that a finance committee will look over the budget again and see if there is any room for the Soil Conservation District.
