The Emporia Gazette

February 14, 2012

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THERE HAS BEEN much discussion in the community recently concerning the Lyon County Extension Council proposal to join with Chase County as an extension district.

The concept is not new, but has been brought forward from the extension councils of both counties looking to improve the services and secure the future of extension programs. It is important to understand that those of us who serve on the Extension Council are your neighbors, property owners, taxpayers and volunteers who have agreed to guide extension programs for the benefit of all county residents.

Districting is not new. The extension district law was passed in 1991. The extension board looked at the history of extension districts in Kansas and sought guidance from K-State Research and Extension in Manhattan. What we found was encouraging. There are now nine extension districts in Kansas, each with a history of fiscal responsibility and improved efficiencies. Each county of a district maintains an extension office and all current programs are in place.

Of the nine existing districts, all have experienced great success and community support. Local district boards maintain control of the district with oversight and support from K-State Research and Extension. Budgets and personnel issues must be approved by K-State Research and Extension after local board approval.

We found that district agents were able to concentrate on specific program areas and offer improved program delivery to county citizens. Districts economized by having only one local extension director and one office professional working on monthly financials, reducing duplication by combining meetings, program specialization and similar savings. Financial stability allows districts to engage in more meaningful long-term planning. Because of these successes, many districts are now forming across the state.

Even though it has been around since 1991, the concept of districting is new to most local people and involves change. It’s not surprising, therefore, that all kinds of rumors and misconceptions are drifting about. I will try to briefly address a few of those concerns.

Foremost is taxes. Some have expressed concern about an extension district being another taxing entity. Be assured that, as with any local taxing entity, the public has the final say when it comes to taxes levied in support of the extension district through the publishing of budgets and public input. When the board is doing its job, public trust is high.

Most people understand that district board members are neighbors and fellow taxpayers. Nobody wants more taxes. As a result, extension districts are very frugal when it comes to taxes.

The mill levy history of the existing nine districts shows that most often mill levies go down with a district. Of those that have gone up, the increase was miniscule, averaging 0.16 mills or only a few cents per person per year.

The proposed Chase-Lyon Extension District would have the lowest tax rate of any extension district in Kansas at only 1.112 mills, equivalent to just $7.55 per person in Lyon County. Now, back up and read that number again — $7.55 per year. The county mill levy is 46.437 mills compared to the extension mill levy of 1.112 mills.

My personal complete mill levy is 104.344 mills. For most of us, support of the extension district is about 1 percent or less of our taxes — 1 percent. Not very much for getting a full year of extension programs delivered by your agents Amy Jordan, Rhonda Gordon, Brian Rees, Mike Holder and an enormous crew of highly qualified volunteers, is it?

Extension is already funded by federal, state and county tax dollars, with the majority coming from the county. The current mill levy equivalent for the Lyon County extension appropriation is around 1.0 mill and that would come off the county tax bills when the district is formed.

Another misconception is that Lyon County is at a disadvantage with the proposed district. Nothing could be further from the truth. In every instance where a large-population, multi-agent county merges with a small-population single or two-agent county, the larger always comes out ahead.

Three agents currently serve all of the extension needs for the Lyon County population of about 35,400. That comes to one agent per 11,800 people. Chase County has one agent for about 3,100 people.

When the district is formed, the agents will no longer be “Lyon County” or “Chase County” agents, but four “district” agents working with the combined population of 38,500 residents or one agent per about 9,625 residents. This is an 18 percent improvement in the ratio for the current Lyon County agents.

Lyon County by no means comes out the loser with districting. The distribution of agents per capita is significantly improved.

In addition, with the county populations weighted over 10:1 to Lyon County, 90 percent of the workload will be in Lyon County. Most of the work, meetings, workshops, etc. will be in the county with the greater population.

We gain an experienced multi-talented agent in Mike Holder, current Chase County agent, and the ability to spread current workloads among more agents. Agents will have larger audiences representing both counties reducing duplication of effort while using the same staff.

One more issue. Some are concerned that the district board will be composed of four members from each county whereas Lyon County has 10 times the population. That’s the law, and we can’t change it.

However, after serving for many years on the school board, watershed board and extension board where the members are elected from a certain geographic area, one fact comes through. Good board members always have the best interest of the entire district in mind. Those who choose to serve on an extension board or any other board must leave the territorial issues behind and strive for the greatest good for the greatest number.

That’s just the nature of a good board member. Also, keep in mind that the board members are elected in a public election, so you as voters have control over who serves on the board.

We have had many opportunities over the past several years to look at and think about an extension district. As your representatives on the extension council, we have looked at the issues associated with extension districts and have found that now is the time to move forward.

I am convinced it is a better value for the taxpayers and beneficial to those we serve. It is the right thing for the people of our area, both financially and educationally.