By:  Doug Busselman, Executive Vice President

Legislation has been introduced by Assemblywoman Kathy McClain to hijack a half cent of each $100 of taxable property now raised for funding the local portion of Cooperative Extension. Assembly Bill 375 is part of a similar approach to the “solution” used by the legislators in the December 2008 Special Session where “fixing” the budget problems was achieved by re-directing funds from a variety of sources for local governments and businesses to plug the state’s general fund shortages.

The beneficiary for Assemblywoman McClain’s redirection of funds from Cooperative Extension is Division of the Department of Health and Human Services for senior citizens.

Legislative redistribution, like AB 375, is the result of a simple math formula.  Raising or creating taxes requires a two-thirds majority vote, as well as the political ramifications of tax increases or push-back from the limited alternatives for taxpayers.  Acquiring someone else’s tax revenue requires a vote of 50 percent-plus one additional member.

Ideally, you and others will be in contact with legislators on the Assembly Taxation Committee as well as other legislators who will possibly be called on to decide the matter.  We strongly encourage respectful opposition and noting that this action is considered as a negative proposal.

Because of the way the funding structure for Cooperative Extension is operated and the dynamics of local, state and federal funding, efforts to divert funding in this manner has the potential jeopardy to cause the entire Cooperative Extension program to crash…to say nothing of the programs and joint efforts from Cooperative Extension to serve senior citizens.