Commission looks at Extension budget proposal

The Hill County Commission took under advisement Thursday the proposed budget for the upcoming fiscal year presented by Hill County Extension Agent Jasmine Carbajal.

During the meeting, Hill County Commissioner Mike Wendland questioned the need for Carbajal and Allen’s concurrent positions.

“I have said for years that we don’t need two extension agents for Hill County, but I’ve got shouted down on this several different times,” Wendland said.

Hill County Commissioner Mark Peterson said this year’s budget presents a few challenges one being the ongoing effects of the pandemic.

“That’s the quandary we’re in; we put a budget together for a year, and we don’t know what’s going to happen,” Peterson said.

Carbajal and her fellow Hill County Extension Agent Tom Allen said one of the effect of the pandemic was a reduced travel budget.

The meeting included discussion about the need for a manager for the 4-H Chuckwagon at the Great Northern Fairgrounds due to the cancelation of the Great Northern Fair.

Carbajal said Pepsi Wagon will still be open and their Chuckwagon manager would be handling that as well, so they would like to keep it in the budget especially since they would have the fair next year.

Peterson said the recent issue regarding ambulance services between the City of Havre and Hill County may have an affect on the budget down the line.

“One thing that we’re looking at is the ambulance side of things, that was not expected, and we don’t really know where we’re going to end up, so we’re going to be keeping that in mind,” he said.

The city of Havre said it has been sending letters to the Hill County Commission about its concerns on ambulance funding for several years, but the commission had not responded until last week.