Budget Scenarios

Your district has recognized a need in the community for an additional Landowner Workshop/AG BMP Tour that cannot go unanswered. The cost of the additional program has an estimated cost of $625. Using the attached budget, reflect a change to address how the district would adjust funding priorities to ensure community needs are met. Provide an explanation for your choices.

Because of economic times, a locality the district serves has informed the SWCD that funding will be cut by $3,800 for Fiscal Year 2010-2011. Taking into account the reduction of County Support funding – now $160,094 -use the attached budget to reflect changes as needed to create a new balanced budget. Provide rationale for certain funding cuts as needed.

Your finance committee has recommended that because of an anticipated budget shortfall that the district choose not to host a district Envirothon competition and cut the entire Envirothon program from the budget creating a savings of $1250. However, there are two or three Envirothon teams who are prepared to compete at the district level with hopes to advance to the Area and State level competition. How should your district address the anticipated budget shortfall? Should it be through cutting the Envirothon program? Explain and discuss possible options a board could consider.

NRCS has announced a reduction in IT support to all districts. USDA/NRCS will provide only one computer on the USDA network free of charge and begin billing $3,100 for each additional computer. As a district with a staff of three, how will you address the computer reduction in your budget? What thought process will your district board need to consider when coming off of the USDA system? What are the benefits and disadvantages of remaining on the USDA system or establishing a separate network? Address this real problem at your own district and share with others in your group.