How are the Statewides funded?
The three statewide public service programs are each mandated by separate, long-standing federal legislation. The Oregon legislature provides funding for the Statewides in three distinct line items in the state budget. State appropriations enable the Statewides to receive and compete for federal, local and external sources that fund research, outreach, innovation and other activities across the state.
2021-23 funding
In Oregon’s 2022 Legislative Session, the university and stakeholders will request an additional $2.2 M in operational funding for the Statewides to fully meet the 2021-23 biennium continuing service level (7.42%).
The Statewides received $151.9 M in the 2021 legislative session, which represents a 5.88% increase. An additional $4.4 M for Statewides facilities support was moved to the Statewides base budget from the Public University Support Fund per changes to the HECC’s funding allocation model.
Continued legislative support protects the state’s investment, ensuring the Statewides can maintain important progress on strategic issues important to Oregonians and that current programs continue in the next biennium at a level sufficient to meet inflationary cost increases.
| Statewide Public Service Program | 2021-23 Legislatively Approved Budget* | 2021-23 Base Funding Request | Variance |
|---|---|---|---|
| Agricultural Experiment Station | $80.5 M | $81.7 M | $1.2 M |
| OSU Extension Service | $59.3 M | $60.1 M | $860 K |
| Forest Research Laboratory | $12.1 M | $12.3 M | $176 K |
| Total | $151.9 M | $154.1 M | $2.2 M |
| * Includes restoration of 2020 Special Session cuts. An additional $4.4 M for Statewides facilities support was moved to the Statewides base budget from the Public University Support Fund per changes to the HECC’s funding allocation model. | |||
2019-21 and 2020 Special Session funding
In the second special session of 2020, the Oregon Legislature approved a 2.5% cut to the Statewides for the current biennium. Compounded to a single fiscal year, this equates to a 5% cut in FY21.
The Oregon legislature approved a $19.2 million funding increase (15.4%) for the Statewides for the 2019-21 biennium. This increase includes $14.4 million to cover continued service level costs and address past budget shortfalls and $5.2 million for new initiatives, including $2 million to the OSU Extension Service for fire resilience and recovery and a total of nearly $2.7 million to the Agricultural Experiment Station and Extension for water quality and quantity programs. The legislature also approved $375,000 for organic agriculture Extension, and one-time funding of $125,000 for a continuing Agriculture Experiment Station berry research position.