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ARF- 3947

Regular Agenda Item 3. C.

Regular BOS Meeting

Meeting Date:	09/06/2016
Submitted For:	Don McDaniel Jr.	Submitted By:	Don McDaniel Jr., County Manager
Department:	County Manager

Information

Request/Subject

University of Arizona (U of A), Gila County Cooperative Extension Fiscal Year (FY) 2016-2017 Funding Request

Background Information

Each year the Gila County Cooperative Extension Director presents the Board of Supervisors with the U of A, Gila County Cooperative Extension Office's Annual Report and a funding request for the upcoming fiscal year to be considered during the County's regular budget process. Richard (Rick) Gibson, Regional Director, recently assumed responsibilities for the Cooperative Extension programs in Gila and Pinal Counties and made the June 7, 2016 Annual Report and request for funding to the Board of Supervisors.

For a number of years the request has been for $60,000. This year the request has increased by $40,000 for a total of $100,000. The justification given for the increase is to help them maintain momentum in developing in-school programs in their newly developing Family, Consumer, and Health Sciences curriculum. The request letter (attached) explains that continuation of the in-school program is threatened because Gila County was awarded the SnapEd grant that the U of A had previously received.

In 2015, the Arizona Department of Health Services (ADHS) notified all SnapEd grant recipients (U of A Coop Ext) and county health directors that the grant would be utilizing a research based approach to population health and they would be requiring grant recipients to partner with local health departments (Gila County Health Department).

Gila County Health Department staff met with the U of A Coop Ext. staff to discuss the partnership under the new guidelines and were told on two different occasions that the Coop Ext. was not interested in a partnership and would continue to go it alone. County staff was a little confused since the ADHS had made it clear that they were requiring partnerships with county health departments.

Gila County subsequently received the SnapEd grant rather than the U of A Coop Ext. Staff assumes that services provided by the Coop Ext. with those grant funds have been discontinued.

Evaluation

Gila County continues to value its partnership with the U of A Coop Ext. and is very appreciative of the very important work they do for our residents. The existing $60,000 funding level provided by Gila County has remained unchanged for many years without recognition of the increase in the cost of providing the same services. Increasing the amount by $10,000 to $70,000 would appear appropriate in consideration of several years of increases in the U.S. Consumer Price Index.

However, an increase in their annual funding to provide services previously paid for by grant funds, which are now provided by Gila County, does not appear appropriate.

Conclusion

The Gila County FY 2016-2017 Adopted Budget contains sufficient funds to increase the U of A Coop Ext annual grant by $10,000 to $70,000. The increase appears appropriate because the grant has not been increased for a number of years despite acknowledged increases in the U.S. Consumer Price Index.

Recommendation

Staff recommends that the Board of Supervisors increase the annual funding amount to the University of Arizona Cooperative Extension Program in Gila County from $60,000 to $70,000 to offset increases in the U. S. Consumer Price Index; and, further that the Board instruct staff to return with an appropriate Intergovernmental Agreement at a future Board of Supervisors meeting.

Suggested Motion

Information/Discussion/Action to approve an increase in the annual funding amount to the University of Arizona Cooperative Extension Program in Gila County from $60,000 to $70,000, which the Board of Supervisors determines will improve or enhance the economic welfare of the inhabitants of Gila County, and instruct staff to return to a future Board meeting with the appropriate Intergovernmental Agreement for Board consideration. (Don McDaniel)

Attachments
U of A Coop Ext Funding Request 2016/2017
Annual Report/Budget Request