Small Group Report of Extension Leadership Meeting

September 5, 2008

Topic 1: Identify ways of increasing revenue

·         Increase county assessments across all categories

·         Change to “per agent” assessment to do away with UK fully funding agent positions in 2-agent counties

·         Charge fees for service

·         Return to Frankfort and Washington, D.C. for funding

·         Increase usage of 4-H camps, other than in the summer

·         Form an Extension Foundation

·         Conduct marketing measures to target legislators

·         Add another tier or category to county funding formula

·         Tap into Phase 1 monies

·         Secure grants

·         Collaborate with other agencies and organizations

·         Secure endowments

·         Don’t charge fees for service

·         Increase local Extension tax

·         Implement a statewide Extension tax

·         Place a tax on agricultural products that goes to support Extension (an Extension check off)

·         Communicate Extension’s value and the value of higher education to people

·         Allow county secretaries to receive raises from the money budgeted by counties

Topic 2: Identify ways of cutting costs

·         Reduce travel through the use of technology

·         Reduce postage by sending more things electronically

·         Evaluate the employee benefits package

·         Purchase fuel efficient vehicles

·         Base salaries on merit-pay rather than years of service

·         Share resources and programs across counties

·         Don’t implement nickel and dime fees

·         Improve the efficiency in the use of current revenue

·         Make better utilization of volunteers – target retired persons and non-parents

·         Implement energy saving measures in county offices – consider office hours, programmable thermostats, smart buildings

·         Use carpooling at all levels

·         Go paperless

·         Develop computer links for public use

·         Utilize more distance learning for agents and clientele

·         Utilize more video and audio conferencing

·         Develop video-based lessons

·         Counties pay more of the cost of benefits

·         Do a breakdown of travel reimbursement and examine ways to improve it

·         Ask the State Fair Board to pay for agent time when they work at the fair

·         Some publications don’t need to be printed every year, or just print a 1-2 page update

Topic 3: Discuss alternative staffing arrangements

·         Share agents across county lines – Who pays? Who decides the schedule?

·         Conduct multi-county programs

·         Share expertise and costs by collaborating with other agencies

·         Improve utilization of support staff

·         Employment of temporary vs. permanent staff

·         Develop a volunteer pool for specific jobs

·         Maintenance employee vs. contact worker

·         Hard to convince counties to contribute more for agent salaries when positions are vacant

·         Look at our current staffing model and establish a long term plan

·         Do we need Ag, FCS and 4-H agents in every county?  Need to look at the needs of each county.

·         Need more 4-H staff, not less

·         Agents need to work closely together in delivering the programs

·         Need to keep the staff working at the highest level

·         Cutting agents is not an option

·         Do not want agents assigned to more than one county on a permanent basis.

·         If counties have 2 agents, it is critical that program information be received by all agents.

·         Maybe scrap the concept of agents as we know them and go to hiring consultants.