Maintaining & Increasing County Support Georgia’s Perspective
Historical Agent Numbers
Historical Agent Numbers Restructuring
2005 At our lowest point since 1991 270 agents in 159 counties Decided to increase the county contribution from $6000 to $12,000 for agent; $25,000 for 2nd agent in a program area $6000 for county secretary $10,000 for Program Assistant
The Cuts Came! 11% cut in 2008 4, 6, 8% cut in 2009 Lost 130 agents from 08 - 11 We tried everything! - Furloughs - Early Outs By 2010 we were desperate!
Review of County Operations March 2010 Refining the County Delivery Model http://www.caes.uga.edu/intranet/coextopr/index.html
We had to Decide… How will we be structured? Maintain County Delivery and Structure? Resulted in a Tier System – 6 levels (no service to full service) Very Painful and Political!
We began to implement in 2011 State cuts continued – 27% as of 2013 College began Strategic Planning in 2011 for 2020 – Extension was ahead The plan worked – maintained integrity of the county structure and from 2006 to present we have always had county money on the table!
New Agents Added 32 agents from September 2011 – September 2013 Added 30+ from January 2013 to present Positions still being advertised with NO new state dollars!
Still Work to Do! As of September 2012, still 30 counties with no FT Home-based Agent Still counties under the salary minimums
County Salary Input Increased to $12,000/agent in 2006 Currently priority is given to counties that can leverage more money County pays percentage of benefits UGA pays healthcare
In Southwest District… County salary percentage (all employees): - 34% in 2012 - 38% in 2013 - Range is 18 – 61.5%
Overview Hired 29 agents since May 2012 3 more advertised Lost 15 (retire, moved, etc.) Net of 17 agent positions!!! Last 25 positions = $18,495 county $ 13 ANR agents = $19,901 county $ Bottom Line: $12,000 county minimum no longer exists!
Lessons Learned Diversify your funding! - State was ~50% - now is ~39% - Federal is flat - County (approaching 1/3) and Grants/Gifts are increasing Local Programs have to be strong Advocacy is HUGE!!! (ELS System)
Lessons Learned Marketing and PR is just as important as programming – CEC’s have to buy in Marketing and Education is ongoing We have to be worthy of the investment Personal, one-on-one relationships are key!
County Relations is a Journey not a Destination!