News File Photo Attendants of the Alpena County Fair participate in the 4-H Market Animal Sale in August.

ALPENA — If the proposed property tax increase for Alpena County fails next month, it will have a direct impact on the youth of 4-H, local farmers, and the area’s natural resources.

The Alpena County Board of Commissioners has pledged to cut $45,000 from the local Michigan State University Extension, which is about half of the local revenue it receives.

MSU Extension District No. 14 Director Adam Koivisto said a cut of that size will drastically change how the office operates and how program leaders handle their programs and projects.

Alpena County will ask voters on Nov. 5 to approve a four-year, 0.7-mill increase, which would help the county recapture about $800,000 a year. The proposal would cost the owner of a $100,000 house about $35 a year.

The proposal failed in August by a vote of 4,070 to 3,882, but county commissioners decided to retry the proposal to try to avoid the severe cuts that include laying off police.

MSU Extension’s mission is to develop youth and communities, enhance residents’ access to an adequate supply of safe, affordable food, keep people healthy, provide natural resources education programs, support Michigan agriculture, and many other initiatives.

The extension has a presence in every county in Michigan.

Koivisto said he knew of the county’s financial challenges and realized at some point, MSU Extension could be included in cuts. He said it is unfortunate and the impacts of the cuts may be far-reaching.

“I knew it was possible, but I hoped this day would never come,” he said. “It has the potential to impact us across all of our services.

Koivisto said the county employee who works in the Extension office at the Alpena County Fairgrounds will likely lose their job, which will force MSU to change the way they handle business.

“She basically deals with all of the customers, by answering phones, working at the front desk, responding to emails, and providing assistance to anyone who needs it,” he said. “We would have to close the office and do everything by appointment only.”

Koivisto said the employee who may be laid off is also critical to the 4-H program. He said there are currently 234 kids in 4-H and nearly 100 volunteers. Koivisto said the employee coordinates events with them for events, educational opportunities, and other program initiatives.

Overall, Koivisto said MSU Extension and 4-H provide service or educational services to about 2,500 children each year through the Alpena Public Schools and local events.

For years, MSU Extension has received about $40,000 from the county-wide Youth and Recreation millage. Koivisto said that money is geared toward youth programs and not operations and staff. He said he is working hard to find ways to make additional revenue and to continue to build on the strong relationship MSU Extension has with the county and community.

“Right now, I’m not sure what our options are if there are cuts,” he said. “I don’t want fewer services, but there may need to be. MSU Extension has been a part of the Alpena County community for more than 100 years, and I want to make sure it remains that way for another 100 years.”

The Alpena County Board of Commissioners says that, if the tax proposal passes, the cuts can be avoided and the service residents receive now will continue.

A $500,000 cut is also planned for the Alpena County Sheriff’s Office, which would likely lead to job loss for deputies and end 24-hour road patrol.

The county was staring at a budget shortfall of more than $1 million but was able to trim it to just under $600,000 by emptying some funds.

The county board has utilized money from the county’s budget stabilization fund, cash from the Tax Revolving Fund, and much of the $5.5 million the county received via the federal American Rescue Plan Act during the COVID-19 pandemic to try to stabilize the budget shortfall.

Even if the cuts are made for the county’s 2025 budget, it is not out of the woods and another large deficit is projected for 2026. With its savings accounts drying up, more cuts may be needed, if the property tax request fails again.

Steve Schulwitz can be reached at 989-358-5689 or sschulwitz@thealpenanews.com. Follow him on Twitter @ss_alpenanews.com.