Roughly 60 protesters gathered downtown Wednesday and more than
100 petitions are circulating as the agricultural community is
fighting back against county proposed budget cuts to the University
of California Cooperative Extension (UCCE) and 4-H programs.
Roughly 60 protesters gathered downtown Wednesday and more than 100 petitions are circulating as the agricultural community is fighting back against county proposed budget cuts to the University of California Cooperative Extension (UCCE) and 4-H programs.
Lisa Tobias and her daughters joined in the protest at the corner of San Benito and Fourth streets, which was held during the evening commute to get the most visibility, holding signs and chanting “Save 4-H.”
“The supervisors need to be a little more responsive to the needs of their constituents,” Tobias said.
The county, faced with a $4 million deficit, may cut its funding to UCCE and the 4-H program, which will save them $70,000, but cause the programs to shut down and leave the county. However, County Administrative Officer Terrance May said Wednesday he hoped to find a solution.
“I’m hoping we can work with 4-H and UCCE to find some way of continuing the programs,” May said. “The budget committee has a huge hole to plug.”
The county budget committee must present a balanced budget to the board by June 30. Management Analyst Susan Lyons said the committee is looking to cut discretionary funding first.
“There are some programs the county is mandated by the state to fund,” Lyons said.
Those include services like the sheriff’s department, public works and other programs essential to the county being able to function. Discretionary programs, like UCCE/4-H, veterans’ services office, parks and community services, are the first to be considered for cuts because by law, the county isn’t required to fund them.
“When you look at things like the jail, we are required by law to keep a certain number of staff there and medical attention for inmates,” May said. “Closing the jail just isn’t an option.”
Another possibility is looking at cutting a percentage of UCCE funding without eliminating the entire program, May said.
“I’m trying to spread the pain as evenly as I can and try not to cut services,” he said.
If May’s attempts don’t succeed and the program is cut, another local event will be hurt – the county fair. The 4-Hers would not be able to participate this fall, and Fair Manager Kelley Ferreira said that would leave the fair pretty empty for visitors.
“The 4-H building, where most of the displays are, would be empty and we wouldn’t have the 150 or so livestock we normally do,” he said.
Ferreira said that would have an impact on their attendance as well because a lot of people come just to see the animals.
Parent Marie Hoffman said one of the reasons her family moved back to Hollister was so her children would be able to participate in 4-H.
“It’s very upsetting,” she said. “I grew up in this community being involved in 4-H. For children in rural areas, 4-H is all they’ve got for activities.”
If UCCE and 4-H programs are cut, along with the name “4-H” and the four-leafed emblem, San Benito County 4-H also will lose $1.7 million dollars from the Georgia Wapple Frazer Trust, which it inherited in the mid-’90s. In a 1965 memorandum of understanding, the county agreed to pay for UCCE’s housing and secretarial staff. Because of a stipulation in the Wapple Frazer trust stating the money must go toward 4-H activities and programs only, the money cannot go toward the secretary’s salary and clerical needs, which the county’s $70,000 contribution covers now.
According to UCCE’s budget, the county actually gets back more than it pays to have UCCE and 4-H in the county. For every dollar the county spends on the program, it receives $12.67 back in research and programs.
If the program does end up leaving the county, UCCE County Director Pat Johns said the likelihood of it ever returning is poor.
“With the current state of the economy, it’s tough to picture the programs coming back to this area,” she said.
Parent Irene Sanchez said she hopes it doesn’t have to get to that point, so she’s made every effort to get petitions signed.
“The people I’ve spoken to just can’t believe the county would cut the program,” she said. “Our family is devastated. 4-H is a huge part of our lives.”
The petitions will be collected Friday and presented to the county Board of Supervisors at next Tuesday’s meeting.
May is encouraging concerned residents to contact their supervisors.
“Their voices will be heard,” he said. “Communication with their supervisors is the best way to make their feelings known.”
Supervisor Ruth Kesler said she’s received a number of calls from concerned residents, and she’s instructed them to call Supervisors Pat Loe and Richard Scagliotti, since they’re on the budget committee.
“I would hate to cut any program for young people, but there is only so much money in the pot,” she said. “Let’s hope we can work something out.”
