Alyssa Bloechl

USA TODAY NETWORK-Wisconsin

Since the announcement of the University of Wisconsin-Extension reorganization in February, counties across the state have begun to indicate they do not support the proposed changes in theory or monetarily.

The reorganization and cuts are a result to the $3.6 million budget cut to the program made by the state July 1, 2015. Cuts are part of the larger $250 million UW System budgetary cuts made by the state in May 2015. On Feb. 17, UW Extension Chancellor Cathy Sandeen said they anticipated cutting an estimated 80 jobs late in 2016 and early 2017.

The Door County Board passed a unanimous resolution during its March 17 meeting, opposing the program’s restructuring, which would bunch Door with Kewaunee and Manitowoc counties together as a service area to share administrative leadership. The multi-county template stretches across the state, with the exceptions of urban Brown, Dane, Waukesha and Milwaukee Counties, who will function on their own.

Door County Extension Department Head and Community Development Educator Rob Burke said he’s glad county supervisors are showing they stand behind his staff.

Related:UW-Extension expects to cut an estimated 80 jobs

“I consider it to be a show of support for the county Extension office,” Burke said. “I think this and other areas passing resolutions in opposition of the reorganization will have to make some difference. It might have an impact to the extent the University is willing to listen.”

In a May 20 memo from the nEXT Generation, the name of the reorganization effort, it stated sponsors of the project are meeting with county board members, administrators, Extension staff and other stakeholders during a series of meetings discussing updates and local perspectives.

Additionally, the memo indicated a modified schedule for work on the reorganization, including that major decisions will not be announced until 2017 and no job reductions will occur before Feb. 1, 2017.

Burke said due to the ambiguity of what is actually going to happen keeps it on the minds of his staff.

“It’s concerning, the future reorganization is stressful, distracting and it keeps us wondering,” Burke said. “We’re concerned but not expecting an imminent disaster. We’re not letting it stop us from doing our jobs.”

The county standpoint

Stating the process to develop a UW-Extension reorganization was flawed and jeopardizes the UW System and Wisconsin counties, the Door County resolution stated Cooperative Extension has a proven track record for more than 100 years as a single-county based model.

The resolution, submitted by the Door County Agricultural and Extension Education Committee, claims the current reorganization plan shifts resources to the urban areas, reduces educator position and has less accountability to county boards.

District 3 Supervisor and Ag and Extension Committee Chair Roy Englebert cited Wisconsin State Statute 59.56(3), stating the counties get to choose to establish and maintain an Extension program.

“We have a long history of working with Extension, and our current group is really hard working,” Englebert said. “We have a choice to support this reorganization.”

As the local Extension offices are supported by local tax levy funding, Door County is no longer willing to continue providing funding at the current level if the county educator services are decreased and the county would have less oversight.

However, the resolution states the County Board is willing to be part of a more meaningful process of creating a more workable reorganization plan.The resolution was sent to Extension offices and county boards across the state along with local state legislators, Gov. Scott Walker and UW System President Ray Cross.

Burke realizes the budget cuts are not avoidable, but he wants to see Extension work closer with the counties one-on-one to create a better alternative for the reorganization.

Neither Kewaunee or Manitowoc counties have drafted or passed a resolution opposing the reorganization at this time. Door County Clerk Jill Lau said her office has received similar resolutions fromseveral counties including Price, Oconto, Buffalo, Chippewa and La Crosse. Manitowoc has also received similar correspondence from Calumet County.

The Door County Legislative Committee sent the passed resolution to all 19 municipalities on April 12, explaining the budget cuts and why Door County, which provides 60 percent of the Door County Extension salary costs, is opposed to the plan. At this time, Washington Island, Sister Bay, and the towns of Jacksonport, Sturgeon Bay and Forestville each have passed their own resolutions opposing the reorganization.

Legislative Committee Chair and District 6 Supervisor Susan Kohout said the support of the County Board is due to all that Extension provides for the constituents.

“They help the municipalities, nonprofits and many other groups do their work,” Kohout said. “It is one of the most well used programs we have in the county.”

She said the research done with the University and brought to the counties through Extension is beneficial to many individuals, especially those in rural counties who do not have direct access to universities in their areas. Regionalizing Extension has a potential of taking away educators and programming away from county oversight.

“I know this is a result of budget cuts, but at the very least they should be asking counties how to handle the cuts,” Kohout said. “Work with county staffs to keep as many of these programs going.”

UW-Extension spokeswoman Jackie Askins said the county resolutions are being passed to the various work groups that are developing the nEXT Generation specifics.

"It's good to have the feedback and recommendations so they can keep those in mind as they work on whatever portion of the reorganization they're working on," Askins said.

-abloechl@doorcountyadvocate.com, Twitter@alyssabloechl, FacebookAlyssa Bloechl. Warren Bluhm contributed to this report.