VIENNA — The Maries County University of Missouri Extension Office has submitted its proposed 2026 budget to the Maries County Commission on Dec. 15, requesting $26,000 in county funding to support personnel and operating expenses.

In a letter dated Dec. 15, Brandi Richardson, Extension and Engagement Specialist for MU Extension in Maries County, outlined the request on behalf of the Maries County Extension Council. Richardson delivered the letter personally to commissioners during the meeting and spoke with them about its contents.

According to the letter, $13,000 of the request would come from county general revenue, while the remaining $13,000 would come from opioid settlement funds to support a part-time Youth Program Associate position.

“Funding of $26,000 is requested, which will cover the extension center’s personnel and operating costs,” Richardson wrote. “$13,000 is requested from general revenue, and the other $13,000 is requested from opioid settlement funds to fund a part time Youth Program Associate.”

Budget documents included with the request show the county appropriation would be divided evenly between general county funding and opioid settlement funding.

The 2026 budget lists $13,000 in revenue from county appropriations and $13,000 from opioid settlement funding, for a total of $26,000 requested.

On the expense side, payroll costs account for the majority of the request. The 2026 payroll subtotal is listed at $21,076. This includes $9,656 for payroll support staff and bookkeeping and $11,420 for a Youth Program Associate working 24 hours per week.

Other projected expenses for 2026 include $1,560 for regional travel, $100 for postage and shipping, $160 for supplies and services, $2,050 for service contract copier costs, $200 for insurance, and $2,000 for other sub-total expenses such as computer supplies, curriculum materials, and miscellaneous items.

Total projected expenses for 2026 are listed at $27,146, with the county funding request covering $26,000 of that amount.

The submitted materials also include financial data from prior years. County revenue totaled $16,500 in 2022, $18,500 in 2023, $22,392 in 2024, and $10,000 for this year.

Payroll expenses increased from $10,914 in 2022 to $15,630 in 2023 and $19,092 in 2024, before dropping to $4,830 this year.

In the letter, Richardson thanked the commission for its ongoing support of MU Extension programs in Maries County.

“The Maries County Extension Council is extremely appreciative of the support that the Maries County Commission has historically shown to MU Extension in Maries County,” Richardson wrote. “We thank you for meeting with us to discuss our budget request and provide highlights of the programming successes during the past year.”

The 2026 MU Extension budget request is expected to be reviewed by the Maries County Commission as part of its ongoing budget discussions. The budget that was approved last year was $10,000, which is statutorily mandated.