The El Paso County Colorado State University extension programs are feeling the effects of recent budget cuts.Gary Hall, CSU extension county director, said personnel and community programs were cut by $165,000, more than half the extension’s original $314,000 budget. Hall said his was the only department in the county forced to cut staff.El Paso County Commissioner Dennis Hisey said the county commissioners decided the cuts were needed because the 2008 balanced budget was $13 million less than the 2007 original budget. He said all El Paso County departments felt the effects of the cuts. “Very few were left unscathed,” Hisey said.He said the budget cuts were necessary to match the income the county receives.Not all departments were affected equally. Hisey said budgets were cut depending on particular needs. For example, the sheriff’s department budget was not affected because of an increased number of inmates, which results in a need for food and medical contracts. And the district attorney’s office needed funds to staff courtrooms because of the addition of three judges.”Some of what they do we value a lot; some of what they do we value less,” Hisey said of the extension office.Hall said the extension office has had to eliminate or scale back on most programs.Adult and youth water education programs, workshops educating the community about private wells and septic systems, the water master’s program and agriculture programs are among those that have been sliced from the budget. Some programs, including 4-H, have been scaled back.The extension office is trying to keep programs by relying on volunteers and offering Web site information to the community, Hall said. “We are trying to figure out how to utilize the money the best way we can,” he said.Hall said if a November ballot issue to raise the current sales tax was not passed, more cuts would ensue.”There is not any anticipation of filling vacant positions until we see the 2009 budget,” he said.Editor’s note: According to a Feb. 15 article in the Gazette, Gary Hall has resigned from his position. The NFH could not reach Hall for a comment.
