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What
is needed from the Legislature in the FY14-FY15
budget?
In
the Governor’s
proposed budget for the next two years, he has returned UNCE to a line item
and he has provided for an enhancement of $500K for each year of the biennium.
Although
$500K per year ($1 million for the biennium) is a welcome addition to the
budget, it falls short of what is needed to bring UNCE back to a minimal
operating level. The cut that UNCE received as part of curricular review was
$10 million over the two-year biennium. This enhancement that the Governor has
proposed restores only 10% of the massive cut UNCE has taken. Although it can
be put to good use, it will not be enough funding to restore all of the
remaining positions to full time. UNCE has “soft funds” that are subsidizing
the current year budget. Those funds will go away on July 1, 2013 and the full
effect of the cuts will be felt. Even with an increase of $500K per year, it
will not be enough to restore all of the remaining positions to full
time.
The Governor has provided a strong base for UNCE as we enter
the Legislative Session. Legislators, especially those serving on finance
committees, have the opportunity to build on the Governor’s budget and increase
the enhancement. The finance committees are Assembly
Ways and Means and Senate
Finance.
An enhancement level of an additional $2 million per year
($2.5 million per year or $5 million total for the biennium) is needed to put UNCE back on track with
positions being restored to full time. It is critical that
program supporters and participants contact their Assembly and Senate
representative and ask their help to increase the funding enhancement
level.
University of Nevada Cooperative Extension (UNCE) is important to Nevadans because it works with citizens to: