The Josephine County 4-H and Oregon State University Extension Service presented their proposed budget for Fiscal Year 2027 to the Board of Commissioners.
Regional Director Jamie Davis discussed how funding through the service district supports the organization. The planned investment in FY 2027 is over $400,000 in dedicated salaries for the faculty.
It was proposed that 4-H Youth Development, Community Relations, and Master Gardner Program Manager Frank Boothby would move into the role of supporting the 4-H program, while a new horticulture and master gardener coordinator would then be hired, with OSU contributing half the salary.
Davis proposed two staffing plans to the board: the first to hire a full time education assistant in January at 0.0330% per thousand of assessed value, as well as a community relations role and full time office specialist. The second plan remained the same except to hire a summer intern to support educational programming in place of the assistant, at 0.300% per thousand taxable assessed value.
The staffing plans would cost about $336,000 and $296,000 respectively. Spending documents would be provided to the county for review to ensure transparency.
The organization is currently recruiting for a livestock and foraging position, and will begin efforts to recruit a forestry and natural resource faculty member this summer.
The board learned funding for a potential new facility is just below $300,000, and that new permanent locations have been explored, with the organization securing a temporary office space at Rogue Community College.
