June 18, 2019
K-State Research and Extension Agent Salary Contributions and Budget Update
This year the governor’s office desired a 2.5 percent cost of living adjustment for state workers. The state legislature supported that proposal.
Similarly, the K-State Research and Extension contribution to agent salaries will be increased by 2.5 percent. This would increase the K-State Research and Extension share to $18,018/agent (from $17,516/agent) for the first two agent positions and $11,128/agent (from $10,842/agent) for all other agents up to the local unit’s number of maximum eligible agents. We hope that our local unit Extension Council partners will be able to honor the 2.5 percent cost of living adjustment by raising their agent salaries by at least 2.5 percent when new employment agreements for agents are worked out this fall.
We have been, of course, concerned about our overall Extension budget. The final budget has not been fully settled as of yet. Kansas State University enrollments are still down for next year. The final budget will be decided once the Board of Regents decide on a tuition increase. As long as our overall Extension budget from state and federal appropriations does not decrease by more than 4 percent, I do not believe our local unit Extension Council partners will experience a direct fiscal challenge this year due to state and university budget concerns.