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.
2022 legislative session
In the 2021 session, the OSU Statewides did not receive full continuing service level (CSL) cost increases. The university and stakeholders are requesting an additional $2.2 million in operational funding for the Statewides to fully meet the 2021-23 biennium CSL (7.42%). Without this funding, the Statewides will likely have to cover costs by leaving positions vacant. As a result, they will have less capacity to address critical needs around the state.
This funding will ensure the Statewides can maintain progress on issues important to Oregonians and that current programs can continue in every corner of the state.
2021-23 funding
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.
| 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.