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| County budget problems leave 4-H program in jeopardy |
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| Wednesday, 25 February 2009 | |
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Cliff Buchan News Editor Imagine a Washington County Fair without 4-H exhibits. Byron Anderson can and he doesn’t like the idea one bit. But such a plight is a reality as the county goes about a budget reduction process that will trim $3.2 million in spending this year. One of the likely cuts involves 4-H programs and contracts now in place between the county and University of Minnesota for the extension programs. An administrative report to the Washington County Board last week listed $130,000 in reductions involving the 4-H program. Without a new funding mechanism, the program could be in jeopardy for this summer’s county fair. That would be a sad day for all, said Anderson of Hugo, a long-time county fair and 4-H advocate. At 68, Anderson grew up in Forest Lake with a 4-H background and carried that tradition on to his family. Today, Byron and Helen Anderson have a batch of grandchildren in 4-H, most of whom are led by sons and daughters of the Andersons. “They are choosing not to fund them,” Anderson said of the 4-H programs. “We turn out a lot of good kids. People probably don’t realize that.” If 4-H no longer exists, the county fair would take a much different look, Anderson said. With the exception of some open class animal exhibits and the adult fine arts projects, barns and youth buildings would be empty. Attendance would also take a hit, said Anderson, who is a past president of the county fair board and still active with the fair. County view Washington County Commissioner Dennis Hegberg of Forest Lake, for years a supporter of 4-H, said he’d like to continue the dollars, but in the wake of huge cuts, he finds that doing so may be hard to justify. Hegberg said the county is freezing or cutting 20 staffing positions, has made human services cuts and reduced library service hours as some of its steps to reduce its budget. “Looking at the other things we were cutting, I couldn’t support it,” he said of 4-H funding. “Where do you make your choices?” Because 4-H is not a mandated service, nor a core service, one option is “to let it go for now,” Hegberg said. “And there will be more cuts.” The decision would impact as many as 800 kids in the county who are members of clubs and site-based 4-H programs run by county extension staff which is today a shared position with Anoka County. The bulk of the county 4-H membership comes from the 18 clubs scattered from north to south. Each youth enrolled in the program pays a $45 fee to participate. Options Anderson for one is optimistic that some compromise can be reached that will keep the program alive for this year at the least. Many 4-H kids have already made plans and started projects that will culminate at the county fair or perhaps at the state fair. He says he will support the county continuing with its contract with the University and allow the 4-H leadership to find funding elsewhere. “Maybe you double that?” Anderson says of the $45 fee per youth which now brings in $25,000. Hegberg agrees. Pulling the rug now would be unfair to those who are already working toward the county fair, he said. If the five-member county board would approve a new contract, the cost for the balance of 2009 may be in the area of $20,000, Hegberg offered. He said the county board may discuss the possibility as soon as Tuesday, March 3 during a regular meeting. Anderson said he hopes for the best. “Without a 4-H presence at the county fair, that’s a big kick,” he said. Social Bookmarking ...       |
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