On Pins and Needles: University Extension Officials Seek to Head Off Another County Budget Cut

After receiving a $38,000 reduction in funds received from the county for its 2011 budget, St. Charles County University of Missouri Extension Service officials met with the county council to discuss concerns about services.

County Executive Steve Ehlmann told Extension officials his main complaint is that other counties pay less on a per capita basis than St. Charles County, but receive the same services. Under state statute, St. Charles County is required to provide just $10,000 in funding for the Extension services, he said.

The county contributed $80,000 to the St. Charles County Extension’s 2011 budget and $118,000 for its 2010 budget.

 “We’re paying eight times what the law requires,” Ehlmann said.

He said he wouldn’t mind paying two or three times what the law requires. OtEhlmann asked if the University Extension had approached the state legislature to attempt to amend the way counties required funding.

Eddie Collier, chairman for University Extension’s St. Charles County Council, said they had not approached the state legislature to change funding requirements.

He also said the county receives services that correlate to the funding amount, such as agricultural and small business classes. He also said the Extension’s small business classes help grow St. Charles County’s economy.

“We are helping businesses succeed and that helps generate tax dollars,” Collier said. “We may not be writing the checks, but some of that does come from our work.”

Council members also asked if University Extension duplicated services provided by St. Charles Community College, the Economic Development Center (EDC) and the St. Charles County Department of Community Health & the Envirnoment.

“Are taxpayers paying twice, once to a community college and then again to University Extension?” Ehlmann asked.

“I’d say the duplication is minimal,” said Scott Killpack, University Extension program director for St. Charles County. He said University Extension coordinates services with the EDC, the health department and other organizations.

Councilman John White, R-District 7, of St. Charles County, said University Extension provides the services at a lower cost than if the same courses were taught at the community college.

He said taxpayers subsidize the community college more than the University Extension Service.

“They do an incredible job with the funds they do have,” White said. “They’re in the middle of the budget year, and they’re on pins and needles waiting to see if we’re just going to let them die.”

Councilman Joe Cronin, R-District 1, of St. Paul, said residents of other counties pay the same tuition costs as St. Charles County residents.

“I’d like to see a tiered tuition plan, so a course costs so much for a St. Charles County resident and so much (more) for a Lincoln County or St. Louis County resident,” Cronin told the University Extension officials.

Council members and Ehlmann also asked if students who an English as a second language class provided by University Extension were checked to see if they were in the country legally.

“Our legal counsel told us we can’t ask that,” Collier said.

St. Charles County Counsel Joann Leykam told council members the county could require residency status checks only if the county funded a particular program. It did not fund the ESL class, she said.

Councilman Paul Wynn, R-District 4, of O’Fallon, said the ESL classes are provided by other entities that are supported by taxpayers.

Killpack said the person who taught the classes no longer works for University Extension and they likely would no longer provide the ESL class. He said the class also was a small part of the services provided by the Extension Service.

Smartt investment

During its regular session, the council introduced a bill Monday to accept a $774,250 state block grant from the Missouri Highways and Transportation Commission for Smartt Field, St. Charles County’s regional airport.

Wynn said county officials say the airport is making money.

“It’s making money because we’re giving it $774,000. We’re subsidizing this,” Wynn said.

Ehlmann said the grant money would be used to build two new hangars at the regional airport.

“The last two hangars we built helped us get out of the red and into the black,” he said. “This will allow us to continue with that.”

Cronin said the money was generated by a fuel tax paid by the pilots and others who buy airplane fuel, so the project directly benefits those who pay the tax.

“I think this is a heck of a deal for the county,” Cronin said.