City looks at plan to fund OSU Extension programs

Agriculture is king in the Mid-Willamette Valley, but a program that provides essential services to farms, foresters, winemakers and others is struggling with dwindling funds.

Salem City Council Monday, May 12 will consider adopting a resolution to support a proposed Marion County Extension and 4-H Service District. The service district would provide taxpayer funds to offset budget cuts to Marion County Extension, which provides a variety of agricultural programs.

The new service district would promote 4-H youth programs, provide university experts to advise agricultural businesses, as well as establish new programs to reduce hunger in the community.

Taxpayers, however, would have final say on its creation.

Voters in 2015 could be asked to support a new tax, amounting to five cents per $1,000 of assessed property values. For example, a home with an assessed value of $160,000 would pay $8 per year.

In January, the Marion County Board of Commissioners approved a petition to form an agricultural extension service district. Commissioners are now seeking the support of cities in Marion County, which is necessary to advance the proposal.

Marion County could seek voter approval of the agricultural extension service district in the May 2015 election.

Marion County has the highest agricultural production value of any county in Oregon, with estimated gross sales of $639 million for all commodities in 2012, according to the Marion County Farm Bureau.

In the city of Salem, about 210 adult volunteers take part in Master Gardner, Master Food Preserver and 4-H leader programs. More than 400 Salem youth participate in 4-H programs.

The Marion County Extension receives funding from a combination of federal, state and county resources. Over the past few years, Marion County Extension’s budgets have been cut 25 percent because of shrinking state and federal resources, said OSU officials.

Public meeting

Salem City Council will meet at 6:30 p.m. in council chambers, Vern Miller Civic Center, 555 Liberty St. SE.