By Ashley Biles

and Larry Stanford

With the State of Georgia facing a $1.1 billion budget deficit, the General Assembly is asking the University System of Georgia to cut nearly $600 million from its budget. Governor Perdue had already asked for $265 million in budget cuts, but the General Assembly has tacked on another $300 million.

While the budget cuts will be spread out over the state's 35 state colleges and universities, it could have devastating effects on the 4-H program in Upson County and elsewhere, extension service offices, and nearby Gordon College.

The University of Georgia's portion of the cuts is $58.9 million. UGA has proposed to eliminate 1,418 postions, reduce the incoming freshman body by about a third, reduce support for the Veterinarian Medical Teaching Hospital by 66 percent, and perhaps most shockingly, eliminate the 4-H program and close half of the county extension offices.

The UGA 4-H youth development programs reach over 156,000 young people on an annual basis. All that would be lost, in addition to requiring 116 immediate layoffs, including 94 county 4-H agents, and resulting in the closing of five 4-H facilities across the state, including Rock Eagle.

"It would be devastating to Upson County and Georgia as a whole to lose the 4-H program," said Lisa Fox, Upson County 4-H Program Assistant.

Fox stated that the county has around 500 kids in 5th-12th grade enrolled in the program. Each year the students involved in the club participate in summer camp, project achievement, and judging teams such as poultry, forestry, wildlife and livestock. They also attend field trips such as Leadership Day at the State Capital and Ag Day.

According to Fox, the 4-H program has something going on each week for the students involved and is constantly looking for new activities.

"We work very closely with our kids... if this happens it will be a dramatic cut for the kids, especially those who have been in the program for many years," said Fox.

Fox stated that they should know by the end of the week if the program will be eliminated.

As for the Cooperative Extension Service, closing half of the offices in state could have drastic effects. The UGA Cooperative Extension Service provides educational programming, information delivery and hands-on technical assistance in support of the agricultural industry in Georgia. Agriculture and agribusiness is Georgia's largest industry, contributing $92 billion annually to the state's output. Closing half of the Extension Service offices would close 79 offices around the state, would result in 169 immediate layoffs, and would severely curtail the University's ability to support this significant economic sector.

At Gordon College in Barnesville, Gordon's share of the additional $300 million is $2 million. President Lawrence Weill stated that they are facing some very difficult decisions.

"Our list includes eliminating our music, theater and business programs, some faculty and staff reductions, and even a reduction in our nursing and education programs. Also included is elimination of our community education and alumni programs, " said Weill. "Our nursing and business programs are two of our most popular programs and our education program is just getting off the ground."

Weill also noted that cuts to programs and personnel will eventually trickle down and have an economic impact on the communities surrounding Gordon College.

"A report released last year showed that Gordon College pumped more than $100 million into the regional economy during fiscal year 2008. We provided 902 jobs to the area, of which 256 are on campus," he said. "For each job on campus, there are 1.6 jobs that exist off-campus because of spending related to the college. Those are powerful numbers when you consider the economic impact of eliminating jobs.

"No matter what, we will continue to offer a quality education to our students," added Weill. "But we also hope that those in government realize that there is more involved in offering that quality education than just a professor standing in a classroom."