Save Lee County Extension

Lee County Commissioners will be deciding on budget cuts sometime in September, 2013, and the entire budget for Lee County Extension Services ($885,600) is on the chopping block. Extension develops & administrates:

1. Public outreach, with free or inexpensive classes on a variety of topics that improve quality of life, nutrition, environmental sciences, bee keeping, Master Naturalist and Master Gardening.

2. Florida Yards & Neighborhood program that educates homeowners about landscapes that will protect the environment & conserve our precious water.

3. 4-H programs that provide youth programs with volunteer services valued at $330,000 in 2011.

4. Master Gardener volunteers (hours from last year alone totaled 26,874, which translates into a dollar amount of $585,584).

5. Training & certification for various occupational licenses.

6. Teaching professional landscapers the Green Industries Best Management Practices (GI-BMPs) on proper use of pesticides & fertilizers, resulting in fewer nutrients & toxins entering our water.

7. Marine Education

8. Agriculture & Natural Resources

9. Family & Consumers.

Lee County Extension, providing residents with access to science-based information and education in natural and social resources through the work of UF/IFAS Extension (University of Florida/Institute of Food & Agriculture Sciences) does all this & more for a minimal investment. It’s a bargain that if lost, will certainly result in the compromise of our clean waterways, which is a big reason tourists visit our beautiful county. Save Lee County Extension. We can't afford not to.