Georgia universities propose eliminating 4-H

The ongoing struggle to balance state budgets may claim a popular program among rural youth in one Southern state. "The University System of Georgia plans to present to state officials a plan to cut or eliminate 4-H in an effort to save almost $59 million of the $300 million it plans to cut this year," Michelle Floyd of the Newtown Citizen reports. State Sen. John Douglas told Floyd the proposal appears to be a negotiation tactic by university presidents, who hope to trim the amount they must cut, but has backfired in the legislature.

Douglas said the legislature should look at cutting high salaries for top university officials instead of popular programs with broad impact like 4-H. "It seems that the primary goal of both the USG and [the University of Georgia] at the moment is to protect huge salaries while threatening the people of Georgia with cuts to very popular programs," he told Floyd. In addition to eliminating 4-H across Georgia, the plan could close five 4-H camps and half of Georgia’s extension offices. (Read more)