The N.C. Cooperative Extension Service faces the prospect of large budget cuts.

Joe Zublena, the associate dean and director for Cooperative Extension Service, discussed some of the details in a recent interview with the Washington Daily News.

“From what we understand, the N.C. House Appropriations Subcommittee on Education is discussing the higher (education) budget this week,” he said. “Our budget is within the N.C. State (University) budget and listed as a separate agricultural programs line with subcodes for the N.C. Cooperative Extension Service 16032 and the N.C. Agricultural Research Service 16031. The Senate Education/Higher (Education) standing committee still has to discuss the budgets, then both sides must work together to bridge any differences and finalize a vote.”

Zublena said that direct cuts will be made from the CES’s individual budget codes. However, there can still be some university-wide cuts that can trickle down to CES as well.

Zublena said how deeply CES’s cuts will be depend on the severity of overall state budget cuts. According to a memorandum sent to State Advisory Council members March 25, cuts of 25 percent to 30 percent will be considered.

“Extension is a people business, so 93 to 95 percent of our budgets are in salaries and benefits. So, cuts will have to be balanced with a reduction in force. Some positions will be closed from attrition, if time permits; others will come from positions not protected by tenure or contracts,” he said. “This will create some program gaps that we will have to address over time by shifting remaining people and program responsibilities.”

Zublena also answered questions related to the pursuit of a new biotech school at the Vernon James Research Center east of Plymouth.

“This is an issue I’m aware of, but do not know the details for a good answer. My understanding is this resulted from discussion in the areas around the Vernon James region between some public schools and Dr. Marshall Stewart, our … associate director for 4-H youth and family and consumer sciences programs,” he said. “Dr. Stewart was formerly with (Future Farmers of America) and worked with vocational-agriculture public-school instructors. He and one of his colleagues discussed some alternative educational models and structures and the biotech school grew from these seeds. Many other groups and organizations are now involved. I’m not sure, but believe the school with be part of the (Department of Public Instruction) system but linked in collaboration with N.C. State because of our expertise in agriculture and biotechnology.”

The University of North Carolina System, which includes 17 institutions, also is facing overall cuts. Currently the state House is suggesting cuts of 15.5 percent according to media reports.