{"id":69421,"date":"2015-10-31T08:11:44","date_gmt":"2015-10-31T13:11:44","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/thevwindependent.com\/news\/?p=69421"},"modified":"2015-11-02T08:41:16","modified_gmt":"2015-11-02T13:41:16","slug":"osu-extension-levy-others-on-general-election-ballot","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/thevwindependent.com\/news\/2015\/10\/31\/osu-extension-levy-others-on-general-election-ballot\/","title":{"rendered":"OSU Extension levy, other issues on ballot"},"content":{"rendered":"

DAVE MOSIER\/<\/b>independent editor<\/i><\/p>\n

The Ohio State University Extension levy is among a number of local issues on the November 3 general election ballot, which includes a number of village and township fire protection and operating issues.<\/p>\n

\"Election<\/a>OSU Extension Educator Curtis Young, who heads the local Van Wert County Extension office, notes that the Extension levy, which was reduced from 0.5-mill to 0.35-mill, following discussions with the Van Wert County Board of Commissioners, provides approximately $180,000 annually to fund operation of the local office, which includes paying salaries and benefits of local Extension educators and the 4-H program coordinator, as well as a full-time office associate and a part-time office associate.<\/p>\n

In addition, with the proposed closing of the Extension\u2019s economic development office in Van Wert, Program Coordinator Caitlin Jones\u2019 salary and benefits would also likely be paid with Extension levy funds following a transition period.<\/p>\n

Young said Jones would perform a variety of community development tasks for OSU Extension, but her salary and benefits would no longer be paid through the city\u2019s hotel-motel tax.<\/p>\n

He also noted that a pending decision to upgrade current 4-H Program Coordinator Heather Gottke to an Extension educator\u2019s position would actually save the county money, since Gottke\u2019s entire salary and benefits are now paid through the levy, while only a portion of her salary and all of her benefits would be paid by Ohio State when she is promoted to an Extension educator\u2019s position.<\/p>\n

Gottke earned her master\u2019s degree a few years ago, a requirement to become an Extension educator, but has remained a program coordinator since then.<\/p>\n

Currently, approximately a third of the levy\u2019s annual revenues is used for 4-H operating expenses, which is primarily Gottke\u2019s salary and benefits.<\/p>\n

According to county officials, the Extension levy fund currently has a carryover of approximately $150,000.<\/p>\n

Other issues on the ballot include the following:<\/p>\n