SR0629 95TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY

SR0629 LRB095 20652 HLH 48908 r

SENATE RESOLUTION

WHEREAS, Illinois' Soil and Water Conservation Districts (SWCDs) are units of local government authorized by Illinois State statute; and

WHEREAS, Each of Illinois' 98 SWCDs was duly created by local referendum; and

WHEREAS, SWCDs were not given taxing authority but were intended to be funded by appropriations made by the Illinois General Assembly; and

WHEREAS, Illinois' 98 SWCDs, and their approximately 250 employees, represent our State's frontline in protecting our rivers, streams, and other water sources against contamination from urban stormwater and agricultural chemicals and sediment; and

WHEREAS, SWCDs provide and assist in delivering programs that prevent erosion from urban development and tillable soil that threatens our agricultural economy and the sustainability of our surface water supplies; and

WHEREAS, The investment of State funds in the operational expenses of SWCDs ensures the distribution to Illinois of about $250 million from the federal farm bill and other sources; and

WHEREAS, SWCDs provide an invaluable service by coordinating assistance from all available sources, public, private, local, State, and federal, in an effort to develop locally driven solutions to natural resource concerns; and

WHEREAS, SWCDs provide services that benefit all citizens of Illinois and the Illinois economy by implementing conservation practices and measures that keep soil on fields, lawns, and development sites and out of water bodies; and

WHEREAS, SWCDs assist developers and homeowners in managing land in an environmentally sensitive manner; and

WHEREAS, SWCDs assist counties, municipalities, watershed groups, organizations, State agencies, federal agencies, corporations, and individuals with planning, installation, and implementation of plans and practices that benefit society and protect fragile and valuable natural resources; and

WHEREAS, SWCDs are dependent upon State appropriations for operational grants and project funds to run their offices; and

WHEREAS, Operational grants to SWCDs are spent almost exclusively on salaries because the districts save on rent and other expenses by sharing offices with the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) in all but 5 counties; and

WHEREAS, The Fiscal Year 2008 budget appropriated approximately $7.4 million for SWCD operational expenses and $6.0 million for the Partners for Conservation Program (formerly Conservation 2000) through the Department of Agriculture; and

WHEREAS, As of April 1, 2008, only $1.7 million of the $7.4 million appropriation has been released to SWCDs for operational expenses; the release of these funds breaks down to each SWCD having received approximately $14,000; and

WHEREAS, None of the $6.0 million appropriated for the Conservation Practices Program under the Partners for Conservation Program has been released; and

WHEREAS, SWCDs cannot retain staff or maintain an office without funds that are appropriated by the Illinois General Assembly and approved by the Governor of the State of Illinois; and

WHEREAS, Many districts will have to consider laying-off staff or closing their doors if additional funding is not released; therefore, be it

RESOLVED, BY THE SENATE OF THE NINETY-FIFTH GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that we urge the Governor to immediately release the remaining $5.75 million that was appropriated for grants to SWCDs for clerical and other personnel expenses in addition to the $6.0 million appropriated for the Conservation Practices Program under the Partners for Conservation Program to implement agricultural resource enhancement programs for Illinois' natural resources, including operational expenses; and be it further

RESOLVED, That suitable copies of this resolution be presented to the Governor and the Director of Agriculture.