4-H Program Faces County’s Budget Knife

Spokane County commissioners’ budget battles might claim an innocent victim.

The 4-H program, which teaches citizenship and career skills to 1,500 children in Spokane County, may have to reduce services next year or start charging admission to some events, organizers say.

It can’t absorb a proposed $8,200 budget cut, said Elaine Mir of the county Cooperative Extension Office. In fact, she said, $25,800 more is needed to hire a full-time 4-H coordinator.

Her office oversees 4-H activities and receives about $750,000 a year in roughly equal shares from the county, state and federal governments. But the extension office answers to Washington State University.

The county’s involvement, said Commissioner Steve Hasson, is limited to money. In other words, the county allocates money to the office but can’t tell it how to spend it.

Commissioners have asked all departments and agencies they help fund to trim their 1996 budgets to offset declining sales tax revenues and what the commissioners call years of wasteful spending.

“We don’t want to leave them high and dry,” Hasson said. “But there’s stiff competition out there for county dollars. They’re going head to head with the sheriff.”

Added Fran Boxer, the county’s assistant chief administrative officer: “The public had rather buy a patrol car and put another deputy on the street than fund a horse leader.”

The extension office will pitch its budget to commissioners Wednesday. Mir said she will argue that one way to reduce juvenile crime is to beef up youth programs.

“It’s too bad prevention doesn’t sell,” she said. “If they’re riding a horse, they’re less involved with using drugs.”

Mikelyn Ward, a 4-H adult leader for four years, said she empathizes with the county in its financial crunch.

But she notes that 4-H has produced good citizens for more than 100 years.

The organization (4-H stands for “Head, Hands, Heart and Health”) is known for its livestock and horse shows, but it also teaches public speaking and citizenship skills. Activities include fashion shows and education workshops. Children can join free of charge.

The proposed $8,200 county budget cut would mean the loss of two part-time workers who were devoted to 4-H issues, Mir said. She wants a permanent coordinator at $25,800 a year, including benefits, to head off future funding woes.

“In reality, it’s a drop in the bucket in terms of the (county’s) overall picture,” Mir said.

Hasson notes that all worthwhile programs are being scrutinized.

“Everyone around here has to take a little bit of a hit because we have to maintain our solvency,” Hasson said. “We’re not going to spend money next year if we don’t have it in our coffers.”

, DataTimes