Title
Department of Agriculture recommending the Board
1) Receive a presentation by the University of California Cooperative Extension, Central Sierra of an overview of the Programs, their accomplishments, and future needs; and
2) Direct staff to include the additional funding in the amount of $41,330 in the Fiscal Year 2023-24 Adopted Budget and return to the Board with approval of amended contract.
FUNDING: General Fund.
Body
DISCUSSION / BACKGROUND
University of California Cooperative Extension provides programs to foothill Counties, which brings researchers and educators into rural areas to help bring the results of agricultural research to the end users to address local agricultural, environmental and health issues. This partnership comprises The Regent of the University of California, The County of Amador, the County of Calaveras, the County of El Dorado and the County of Tuolumne and is established by the interlocal agreement. Programs include services such as 4-H Youth Development Staff, Master Gardener Staff, Natural Resources Advisors, Specialty Crops Advisor and the Forestry Advisor program.
The County of El Dorado is a member of the Multi-County Partnership and the University of California Cooperative Extension Advisory Council with Supervisor Lori Parlin representing our County and the Agricultural Commissioner LeeAnne Mila. The programs are determined by representatives from each of the partner organizations through the Advisory Council. On April 19, 2023, the Advisory Council met to discuss the needs of UCCE. Subsequently, after UCCE presentations to the other counties, they approved increases to their contributions to cover the increased cost of salary and benefits.
The recommendation is to increase the annual agreement amount by $41,330 for a total annual amount of $316,865 for the remainder of the agreement term ending on June 30, 2026.
ALTERNATIVES
The Board could also choose to not allocate funding, or to revisit the additional fundin...
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