Editor:
The Linn County 4-H and OSU Extension programs need our help.
As our county government faces declining revenues, these important programs face a death of one thousand cuts.
The county commissioners and budget committee have been even-handed in administrating their shrinking revenues, but that has not forestalled a reduction in staff at the 4-H and Extension office. With the expected loss of timber revenues, further cuts are inevitable.
While I usually support a limited government, in my view, the 4-H and Extension programs are some of the best of government services supplied in a shared and cost-effective manner.
There are few programs that are so highly leveraged in favor of the taxpayer as are these. Specialist personnel from OSU Extension, working through an office supplied by Linn County, with the cooperation and thousands of hours of volunteer work by the citizens of Linn County put out a premier program of education and growth for our youth and provide the vital link for application of scientific work from the universities to our agricultural and forestry industries.
If you have children or grandchildren in 4-H, if you call the Master Gardeners with a question, if you receive information from OSU Extension agents, you are a customer of Linn County 4-H and Extension.
Many of the users and supporters of the 4-H and Extension programs have concluded that the formation of a service district with the ability to levy a property tax of 7 cents per $1,000 of valuation is the best way to guarantee a steady source of funding for the Linn County 4-H and Extension office.
By joining the 16 counties in Oregon, which have already formed similar districts, the citizens of Linn County will keep these fine services available. You can help make that happen by signing the petition to place the Linn 4-H and Extension Service District on the ballot.
George Pugh
Shedd