Teaching/Communication/Extension/Profession,

Peterson, Everett E.

English

Research Papers in Economics

NEBRASKA'S  EXTENSION  PROGRAM
IN  STATE  AND  LOCAL  PUBLIC  FINANCE
Everett E. Peterson, Public Aflairs Specialist
University of Nebraska
The  problems  and  policy  choices  in  state  and  local  government
finance  were  the  main  topics  discussed  in  the  major  public  affairs
extension  program  of  the  University  of  Nebraska  in  1961-62.  The
program  was  entitled:  "Let's  Talk About  Nebraska  Taxes."  This edu-
cational  activity  for  the  citizens  of  the  state  was  planned,  prepared,
and  presented  by  the  extension  staff  in  agricultural  economics  under
the  leadership  of  the  public  affairs  specialist.  The  general  purpose  of
the program  was to meet the  need and desire for objective information
on  this important public issue  as expressed by farm and nonfarm people
throughout  the  state.
OBJECTIVES
The  objectives  of  the  public  affairs  educational  program  of  the
University  of Nebraska  were:
1.  To  provide  the citizens  of the  state  with factual  information  on
the expenditures  and  revenue  systems of state  and local  govern-
ments,  on basic  principles  of public  finance,  and on the  advan-
tages  and  disadvantages  of  alternative  methods  of  obtaining
revenue  for public purposes.
2.  To  increase  citizens'  awareness  of their rights  and  responsibili-
ties  with  respect  to  this and  other public  affairs  issues-the  im-
portance  of  reaching  decisions  based  on  the  best  available
information  and  then expressing  their  views  to  those  having  or
aspiring  to  have  public  spending  and  taxing  responsibility  and
authority.
PROGRAM  PROCEDURES
Leader  Training  Workshops
The principal  teaching method used  in working toward these  objec-
tives  was  a  series  of  fifteen  two-day  leader  training  workshops  for
county  agents  and local  leaders  from  every  county  in  the state.  Mate-
rials  for  these  meetings  were  prepared  during  the  summer  and  fall
of  1961.  The  fifteen workshops  were  held in January-March  1962.
The  subject  matter  to  be  covered  and  procedures  to  be  followed
were  first  discussed  in  detail  with  district  supervisors  before  they  met
with  county  agents  in  district  program  planning  conferences.  This  re-
134suited  in  excellent  cooperation  and  support from  the state  administra-
tive  and county extension staffs.
Program  objectives  and  suggestions  for obtaining participation  by
local  leaders  were  explained  to  county  extension  chairmen  and home
agents in a letter signed by the state director of extension.  Each county
was  asked  to  invite  ten  urban  and  rural  leaders  who  were  willing  to
attend  a  two-day  training  meeting  and  to  participate  in  planning  and
conducting  follow-up  activities  at  the  county  or  community  level.
County  agents  were encouraged  to  consult with  their extension  boards
in  selecting  the  ten  participants.  A  special  effort  was  made  to  invite
state  legislators  to  attend.
The workshops were  conducted by two two-man teams of extension
economists.  All of the  first day  and part of the  second were devoted  to
lecture-type  discussions of:  the role of government  in our society; basic
principles  of public  finance  for  analyzing  spending  and revenue  prob-
lems  and  policies;  criteria  for  evaluating  taxes;  characteristics  and
advantages  and  disadvantages  of  the  property  tax,  general  sales  tax,
and  personal  income  tax.  The lectures  were illustrated with  visual aids
through  the  use  of  an  overhead  projector.  Discussion  guides  or out-
lines  of  subject  matter  were  provided  to  the  participants  to  facilitate
note  taking  and  comprehension  of  the  material.  "Students"  were  en-
couraged  to  ask questions  and  to discuss  additional  relevant  points.
The  two  days  of  intensive  training  concluded  with  a  half  day  de-
voted  to  the  small-group  discussion  technique.  Participants  were
divided  into  self-administered  discussion  groups  of  about  ten  people
in  each  group.  Specialists  were  available  as  resource  people  but  did
not  sit  in  with  these  groups.  A  set  of four  questions  was provided  to
the  groups  as  a  basis  for  discussion.  The  group-discussion  technique
gave  the workshop  participants  an opportunity  to share views,  to apply
what  they  had  learned,  to  get  difficult  points  clarified,  and  to  go
through  an  experience  in exercising  their  rights  and responsibilities  as
citizens.  Each  group summarized  and reported its  discussion  when  the
participants  reassembled.
About  650  local  leaders  and  county  agents  attended  the  fifteen
workshops.  Among the participants  were:  farmers  and ranchers;  bank-
ers;  retail businessmen; doctors,  dentists,  and lawyers;  county assessors,
clerks,  treasurers,  and  board  members;  state  legislators;  college  pro-
fessors and school  teachers;  and school administrators  and board  mem-
bers.  The  response  was  generally  favorable  among  participants,  who
indicated  that  they  regarded  the program  as  very  informative  and the
presentation  objective.
135The  workshops  received  widespread  and  continual  coverage  from
the  press,  with  both  favorable  and  unfavorable  editorial  comment.
Considerable  criticism  of the  entire activity  came from one metropoli-
tan  newspaper,  from  some  individuals  and  groups  who  felt  that  the
university should avoid controversial  issues,  and from a few who argued
that  the  university  was  trying  to  "sell"  a  particular  viewpoint.  Our
evaluation  of the  series  is that  it  was  successful  as  an  educational  ap-
proach  to a  complex and controversial  subject.
Other  Activities
County  agents  were  encouraged  to  involve  the  workshop  partici-
pants and their extension  boards in planning and carrying out follow-up
activities  at  the  county  and local  levels.  Since  more  material  was pre-
sented  in  the  training  meetings than  could  be handled  conveniently  in
local  programs,  an  outline  of  a  suggested  two-hour  program  was
prepared  by  the  specialists.  Activities  reported  so far  include:  county-
wide  public  meetings  with  specialist  help;  series  of  two  to  five  local
discussion  meetings  organized  and  conducted  by  leaders;  county  or
community  meetings with panel  discussions by leaders; talks and panel
discussions  by  agents  and  leaders  at  regular  meetings  of  organized
groups  such  as  farmers'  organizations,  service  clubs,  home  extension
clubs,  parent-teacher  associations,  etc.;  and  use  of  local press,  radio,
and  television.  Since  these  activities  will  continue  through  1962  and
into  1963,  complete  information  is not  available  at  this time  on local
educational  efforts.
A  special  one-day  presentation  of  the  material  prepared  for  the
workshops  was  given  by  extension  economists  for  the  governor  of
Nebraska,  his administrative  assistants,  and the state  tax commissioner.
A  workshop  was  also  held for  the  entire staff  of the  College  of  Agri-
culture  at  the  University  of  Nebraska.  Four  half-hour  television  pro-
grams  were  prepared  and  video-taped  for  later  telecasting  over  the
university's  educational  station,  KUON-TV.  A  Lincoln  newspaper
assigned  a  reporter  to  summarize  the  information  discussed  in  the
workshops  and published  these summaries  as  a series  of articles  in the
daily paper  and  as  a  special  reprint.  A set  of four  extension  circulars
has  been  written  by  the  economists  involved  in  this  program  and  is
now in the process of being printed.  These will  be available for general
distribution  and as  a basis for home extension  study lessons.
RESULTS  EXPECTED
The immediate  result of these educational  activities  was widespread
interest  in  and  discussion  of  Nebraska's  state  and  local  government
finance  problems  and possible solutions,  especially  sources  of revenue.
136One  newspaper  editor  told  the project  leader  that,  in  his opinion,  the
people  of  Nebraska  had  received  more  information  on  this  public
affairs  issue  during the  first three  months  of  1962  than  in  the  state's
entire  history.  Continued  formal  and  informal  discussion  is  expected
at both the state and local levels.  The leaders trained  in the workshops
provide  a core  of well-informed  citizens  in  every county  of the  state;
they continue to  be actively  involved  in discussion.  Several  candidates
for  the  state  legislature  have  asked  for  information  by  letter  and  in
personal visits with extension  specialists.
The  full  impact  of  this  educational  effort in  public  affairs  by the
University  of  Nebraska  will  not  be  known  for  some  time,  perhaps
several  years.  Proposals  for changes  in Nebraska's  tax system  are  cer-
tain  to be introduced  and  discussed at considerable  length in  the  1963
session  of  the  state  legislature.  Action  or  lack  of  action  by that  body
will depend  upon  the views  and  desires  of the citizens  of Nebraska  as
expressed through the political process.
137

NEBRASKA'S EXTENSION PROGRAM IN STATE AND LOCAL PUBLIC FINANCE

Abstract

Similar works

Full text

Available Versions

Research Papers in Economics