1. Maintaining & Increasing County Support
Georgia’s Perspective

2. Historical Agent Numbers

3. Historical Agent Numbers
Restructuring

4. 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

5. The Cuts Came! 11% cut in 2008 4, 6, 8% cut in 2009
Lost 130 agents from
We tried everything!
- Furloughs
- Early Outs
By 2010 we were desperate!

6. Review of County Operations March 2010
Refining the County Delivery Model

7. 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!

8. 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!

9. 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!

10. Still Work to Do!
As of September 2012, still 30 counties with no FT Home-based Agent
Still counties under the salary minimums

11. 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

12. In Southwest District…
County salary percentage (all employees):
- 34% in 2012
- 38% in 2013
- Range is 18 – 61.5%

13. 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!

14. 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)

15. 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!

16. County Relations is a Journey not a Destination!