Stephens Co. Commission Tables 4-H Funding Request

Stephens County Commissioners do not take up a request for additional funding for the county’s 4-H program.

During Tuesday’s meeting, the county commission was scheduled to consider a request from Stephens County Extension Agent Forrest Connelly for county commissioners to add $2,700 in annual funding for the Stephens County 4-H program to help make up for funding cut by the Stephens County School System.

The request comes after the Stephens County Board of Education voted last month to reduce its contribution to the county’s 4-H program from just under $20,000 a year to about $6,000 a year in what school officials call a budget reduction move.

Connelly said after that decision by the school system, he would seek additional funding from the county and the University of Georgia, which are the other two entities involved in the 4-H agreement.

However, county officials say he could not be at Tuesday’s meeting, so consideration of the request was postponed.

It will be placed back on the agenda at the county commission’s next meeting on March 24, according to Stephens County Administrator Phyllis Ayers.