Extension district would allow offices to share resources
By Brandy Nance (Contact)
Friday, August 21, 2009
Editor’s note: This is the first of a two-part series explaining the proposal to create an extension district. Part 2 in Monday’s paper will look at existing districts.
By Brandy Nance
nance@emporiagazette.com
The concept of Extension Districts involves much more than the ability to tax, organizers say. The districts have been in Kansas since 1991, when the Legislature passed the extension district act.
The formation of the district with Chase and Lyon counties was brought to Lyon County commissioners on Wednesday.
According to the K-State Research and Extension Web site, since the extension district act’s passage in 1991, any two or more counties can legally work together to form an extension district. According to the Web site, 23 counties have formed eight districts in Kansas from 1994 to 2008. In 1994, Mitchell and Lincoln counties formed Post Rock District with Jewell and Osborne counties joining in 2005.
Brian Rees of the Lyon County K-State Research and Extension, said forming a district will allow the pooling of resources and will provide stability for both counties involved. Rees said combining districts allows more in-depth programming for Chase and Lyon counties. Combining resources allows agents with specializations to be shared by both counties.
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