Hughes County South Dakota Commissioners have approved their 2016 budget. The budget is almost $720,000 less than last years. It also cuts the 4-H program by almost $ 66,000. 4-H program Coordinator Mark Rowen says the county and extension budgets run in different intervals. He says the 4-H funding was basically cut in half.

Rowen says they’ve been given a one year reprieve which means they’ll have to do some fundraising on their own in order to keep the 4-H program following 2016.

Hughes County Commissioners consider the 4-H program as part of discretionary spending so it was subject to cuts unlike essential programs.