Extinction for Lee County Extension Services?

A group of 26 novice gardeners and experienced farmers crowded a classroom at Terry Park to learn “Urban Farming for Profit,” as Lee County officials consider cutting funds for the program.

Extension Services, a 91-year-old partnership with the University of Florida, was identified by county administrators as a program that could be cut as a means to save money amid talk of budget reductions and tax hikes.

The program has a $750,000 budget. It was the only parks program identified in a July 24 memorandum to commissioners that called for Lee to slash its parks spending by $888,000 as part of $6.8 million in general fund cuts for the fiscal year that starts Oct.1.

County Manager Roger Desjarlais said county staff will know more about reductions after an Aug. 19 commission meeting.