Sources of dedicated funding for soil & water conservation

[Brad Spicer]

Which states have some type of dedicated funding, at the state level, for their soil and water conservation district programs? Of those that do, what are the sources of these dedicated funds (taxes, fees, etc.)? Also, how much of this state funding is generated, on average, each year?

[Gary Moore]

A few years ago the Virginia General assembly authorized a $10/transaction “Recodration Fee” for all real estate transactions recorded at the local Clerk of the Courts Office. That fee is deposited into the Virginia Natural Resources Committment Fund (VNRCF) a sub fund of the VA Water Quality Improvement Fund (WQIF). The VNRCF is dedicated to implmenting Agricultural BMPs and funds the Virginia Agricultural Best Management Practicea Cost-share Program. In 2011 it was the only source of cost-share funds available as there were no state budget surplus funds, the normal source of funds for WQIF and the cost-share progam. We budget based upon an estimated revenue stream, the first 3 years collected revenue did not meet budgeted estimates, however this year we have more than estimated for the first time.

[Brent Dykes]

There are no dedicated funds for conservation districts in Georgia, other than on average $1000 per district for basic administrative expenses. Districts generate their own funding through local initiatives or grant applications.

[Carolyn Hefner]

We do not have any dedicated funding streams

[Scott Carlson]

The following link explains the dedicated source of funding in Kansas.

http://www.kwo.org/Kansas_Water_Plan/KWP_2014/Rpt_KWP_Volume_I_Draft_021913.pdf

[Jennifer Clifford]

In New York Districts are provided state funding thru the states Environmental Protection Fund (EPF) which is financed primarily through a dedicated portion of real estate transfer taxes. In 2012 Districts received $3.5 million in state appropriations. The funding is distributed thru competitive (performance measures) and non-competitive (reimbursement and request for conservation project funds) avenues. In addition the states Agricultural Nonpoint Source Abatement and Control Grant program is a competitive grant program exclusive to conservation districts. Districts also seek funding from other sources.

[Steve Woods]

MN has no “guaranteed” feeder of funds specifically for the 90 SWCDs, but we do have three pretty reliable sources:
1. Base fundng from the state’s general funds supplies about $6M/yr.
2. Bonding for conservation easement processing feeds about another $600k to a third of them.
3. A sales tax increase of 3/8 of one percent was passed in November 2008 that rasies $90M/yr for clean water. Of this amount, SWCDs usually capture about $7M/yr.
(4. Habitat Funds from the sales tax increase usually result in a handful of SWCDs scoring big single-project dollars. These are far too varibale in size and frequency to be considered “dedicated”.)

[Marc Cribb]

SC’s 46 conservation districts receive an annual allocation of state funds from the State Legislature. The current state funding level is $690,000, or $15,000 for each district.

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