Advisory committees in the three counties -- Jackson, Highland and Carroll -- will make recommendations to Extension administration on whether to pursue alternative funding sources, seek another levy, or close the offices. Extension anticipates the decisions will be made by June 1.

"Extension was established as a partnership, meaning that we require local financial support before state and federal dollars can be provided," said Keith Smith, associate vice president for agricultural administration at The Ohio State University and director of OSU Extension.

Without local support, youth in Jackson, Highland and Carroll counties would not be eligible to be 4-H members. "It would be unfair and a financial burden to expect another county to pay the expenses of providing 4-H to youth from other counties," Smith said. Access to other Extension programs would be severely limited.

State funding for OSU Extension comes through a line item in Ohio's operating budget. The organization does not receive funding from tuition. "We cannot expect Ohio State to take public dollars intended for a designated purpose, such as student instruction, and steer them toward Extension -- nor would we want to see the opposite occur. It's a matter of public trust," Smith said.

Extension works with businesses, farms and communities to help them be more prosperous, with families in the areas of nutrition, food safety and financial management, and with children through 4-H Youth Development programming. "We want nothing more than to continue our important work in all communities throughout Ohio," Smith said.