San Benito County officials have backed off a proposal to cut $70,000 from the University of California Cooperative Extension and 4-H.
Way to go, residents of San Benito County.
We have no doubt that the county’s quick decision to rethink the issue is a result of pressure from a community that banded together to preserve something precious. When word got out that the county was thinking about cutting UCCE funding, people sprang into action. Kids rallied in protests on street corners, petitions were circulating to save 4-H, letters to the editor came in in a flood and we’re sure the local supervisors’ phones were ringing off the hook.
It was a sight to see, and it shows the power that ordinary folks have when they work together.
Cutting $70,000 – a small amount of money when compared to the county’s $4 million deficit – would jeopardize all the UCCE’s programs, including the beloved 84-year-old 4-H program it offers to local kids. But a late-night press release from County Administrative Officer Terrace May last week announced “the county is committed to providing continuing financial support to ensure the 4-H and Farm Advisors programs remain in operation.”
He then said Supervisor Bob Cruz will not be at Tuesday’s meeting, so the board won’t discuss or vote on any budget matters during that meeting. Therefore, May said, it won’t be necessary to pack the board’s chambers to fight for the program. Still, the meeting starts at 9:30 a.m. and it wouldn’t hurt for some people to show up and address the board about the issue during the public comment period.
May plans to work with the UCCE office to strike a deal beneficial to the Extension and the county budget. That likely means the UCCE will see some cuts, but not a 100 percent cut. UCCE officials have said they can take some losses, but a 100 percent cut of funding from the county would mean it would have to shutter its windows, cut 22 agricultural research programs and end 4-H for the 256 kids involved in the program. In order to keep those valuable programs, we encourage UCCE to keep its word and work with the county. Officials do, after all, have to balance their budget.
The county also is considering setting up a fund that people can donate into to keep programs like 4-H going. That’s a good thought if things get desperate, but we think spending the money already collected from taxpayers to keep 4-H going is even better.
While this appears to be a great victory, the promise has not been signed, sealed and delivered. The county will be deliberating its budget in August. Until there is a vote on the final budget to keep 4-H funded, nothing is certain. It takes a majority vote from the board to preserve the programs. So, keep the pressure on and make sure your supervisors know how you feel about the issue.
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