The organization may face a sudden elimination of funding.
By Diana Fairbanks
Thursday, October 22, 2009 at 1:19 p.m.
Read more: Local, State, Economy, Politics, Agriculture, MSU, Extension, Fact Finder, Diana Fairbanks, Granholm, Budget
Three weeks past the budget deadline, lawmakers and the governor are still finalizing many of the details of the state budget. And there are some important issues still unresolved and unfunded.
Even some programs that were thought to be safe may not be, like MSU Extension.
We have the latest and have a closer look at what's at stake in tonight's Fact Finder Report.
Grand Traverse County Extension Director Jim Wiesing says "MSU Extension in the Grand Traverse County office means many things to many people. To some people it means agriculture, others 4H, to some it's land use planning or master gardener education or food and nutrition programs or parenting education."
For about 150 years MSU extension offices in every county have helped people get information about a wide variety of subjects. It was actually part of the deal when the state received federal money to create Michigan State University. Today MSU extension receives state federal and local money to cover their costs.
With the state budget crisis, MSU extension learned they would have a 44% reduction in state funding for the next year, but the plan was to use federal stimulus money to make up the difference.
Weising says,"We thought in the near term our budget was ok. We heard rumors this morning that perhaps there could be a threat of complete elimination of funding for MSU extension."
Lawmakers have approved the budget and sent it to Governor Granholm. But Weising has heard talk that the governor might line item all funding for MSU Extension, which would have wide reaching and immediate consequences.
Weising says, "under the current situation, if the rumors are true and if our funding is to be terminated or ends very soon it would be a complete closing of all 82 county offices. It would be a cessation of programming, 4H would be shut down, volunteers would be recalled, programs we've been scheduling to do in the near future would all cease and of course the immediate lay off and termination of all employees."
That's more than 20 at the Grand Traverse County office and more than 700 employees statewide.
But how much it would save the state is not a simple answer.
Weising says, "MSU extension and ag research budget combined from the state in $64 million so that is the total amount that could be possibly saved under the total elimination. If in fact that happens, the irony is that MSU extension and the other programs would lose the cumulative effect in $1.1 billion."
That's money would be lost from other funding sources like the federal government, if the state eliminates its funding.
And Weising says the impact goes far beyond the bottom line.
Weising says, "if we are eliminated it would be a detriment to higher education and the citizens of Michigan, not a help. In other words, the $64 million does more good for the people of Michigan than just having that money reserved in the budget."
I did contact the governor's office about this issue. Her spokesperson Liz Boyd says, "Funding for this program is in the Higher Education budget, which just arrived on the governor's desk yesterday. The bill is being reviewed and we will not have anything specific to say about the action the governor will take until she signs the bill. I will confirm that the Governor said she expects to use her veto pen when signing the budgets on her desk."
If this does happen, Weising says it would have to happen within the next two weeks. That's how long the governor has to line item veto something from a bill on her desk.
So what do you think about this? Leave your comments below.
