Extension
C. R. “Bud” Bryan, Delaware County extension director, eyes this location, a con
verted bam on the Garrett Williamson farm used as a 4-H site, as the soon-to-be home
of some of the extension office. This part of the bam is being converted Into a teaching
area tor various 4-H programs. Photo by Andy Andnws.
ce Faces Possible
Lancaster Farming, Saturday, Hay 16, 1992-Al9
Budget Cuts , Closure
ANDY ANDREWS
Lancaster Farming Staff
NEWTOWN SQUARE (Dela
ware Co.) C. R. “Bud” Bryan
reaches down to push the latch that
props open the rickety, broken
down screen door at the entrance to
a makeshift office. Tattered, used,
musty smelling furniture lies
about.
And the latch, as much in need
of repair as the rest of the office,
doesn’t hold. Only a small gust of
wind is needed to slam the door
closed.
Bryan, Delaware County exten
sion director, said the office may
be adequate for three people, at
most, and some files.
The extension director eyes this
location, a converted bam on the
Garrett Williamson farm used as a
4-H site, as the soon-to-be home of
some of the extension office.
If they still have their jobs.
Because in a few weeks, Bryan
has to follow through on the worst
case scenario, a nightmare exten
sion offices in “other” states face:
the loss of the extension office
location and most of its funding.
On April 10, his office was nod-
Tied by the Delaware County
Council that, as of July 1. they
must vacate the office, located at
the Rose Tree Park along Rt 252,
and move everything out Funding
has been cut by 6S percent Out of a
budget of $150,000 (20 percent of
their entire operating budget), the
office has been promised only
$50,000 for the entire year.
“We’re getting substantial
county cuts,” said Bryan, sitting in
a dilapidated sofa. ‘‘We are losing
our secretaries, and next year the
appropriation, the support from
county, will be no more than
$50,000 out of a normal budget of
$150,000.”
The county council has elected
to cut the money, according to the
letter, because of expected finan
cial difficulties through budget
year 1993. Substantial decreases in
federal and state funding were
cited in the letter.
“Penn State will not step in to
replace county dollars,” said Ted
Alter, southeast region extension
director. Alter emphasized that the
extension system is a partnership
of federal, state, and local govern
ments, and “we believe that all
three partners ought to be
involved.”
Alter said that the number of
county dollars reduced will have a
direct effect on the amount appro
priated to the county by Penn
State. The amount that Penn State
will allocate (which was $402,908
in 1991, or about 55 percent of the
county extension’s total operating
budget) will be reduced according
ly, according to Alter.
However, Alter told Lancaster
Farming that Penn State’s primary
(Turn to Pago A 22)
Joseph C. Peffer
Estate Counselor
Jeffrey C. Kttzmlller
Estate Counselor
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