SPRINGFIELD, Ill. — More than one-third of the total $7.5 million 2015 appropriation due to Illinois Soil and Water Conservation Districts (SWCD) has been suspended by the Governor’s Office of Management and Budget and the Illinois Department of Agriculture (IDA).
If the suspension is not lifted, Illinois SWCDs will need to reduce its workforce, said to Kelly Thompson, executive director of the Assoc. of Illinois SWCDs.
This year, $4.7 million has been released to fund SWCD operations. That amounts to nearly $33,900 to each of the 97 districts, plus health insurance premiums, Thompson said in a statement released April 7. Districts need $1.75 million – or about $18,800 per district – to fund them through the remainder of this fiscal year.
Illinois SWCDs operate with 149 employees, approximately 30 percent less manpower than eight years ago.
Thompson argued that unlike most state-funded agencies, SWCDs return to the local economy an average of $23.57 for every dollar spent for their operation. SWCD programs are capable of adding more than $400 million to the state’s economy every year, but if forced to close due to lack of funding, the services will "disappear completely," Thompson said.
"A SWCD person is the first person farmers and landowners see" when applying for federally funded conservation grants in offices typically combined with Farm Service Agency and USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) staff, Thompson told Farm World. "Over $400 million is administered across the state yearly by SWCDs that help process applications. Essentially, that’s around 1.5 employees per county. That’s not enough to assist with these programs," she said.
Technical staff, which assist farmers and landowners in establishing conservation practices, are being let go by local districts, Thompson said. Many of those employees have had connections with landowners for years. Thompson said this isn’t the first reduction challenge to the SWCD budget.
"A lot of our staff has been around 15, 20 years, so they’ve weathered the storm many times. It seems like soil and water is always on the chopping block when it comes to funding. Their funding is created under state statute, the Illinois SWCD Act, but has no dedicated funding source," Thompson said. "They receive their funds through what is called the Partners in Conservation Fund, through essentially a grant line item. That’s why it’s always up for debate in the legislature."
The $18,800 due to each SWCD is intended to sustain each district. Many districts will continue to function through December without any state payments, though those without resources in reserve could cease to operate. Thompson reported that of Illinois’ 97 SWCD offices could survive 6-12 months without further state dollars to pay salaries and health insurance.
"But what you’ll eventually see are districts that will cease to exist, so landowners will have to go to other countries for assistance," she said. "I’m not sure what’s going to happen next year. If (the state) can’t even pay the districts the remainder of their money this year, I’m not sure what’s going to happen. Some of our districts will have to close their doors."
Cuts to Illinois SWCDs are part of Gov. Bruce Rauner’s state budget plan, announced April 18. Rauner’s proposed budget contains spending cuts to Medicaid, state-funded pensions, education and many other programs. In all, Rauner is recommending $1.5 billion in cuts.
Rauner said his plan would end "the irresponsible and reckless practices of the past" while reducing the state’s current $6 billion budget deficit. "This is our last, best chance to get our house in order," he told the Illinois Legislature.
SWCDs were established during the Dust Bowl era to combat soil erosion issues and continue to provide services to farmers, landowners and communities by working with federal, state and non-governmental organizations.
"We definitely need (SWCD’s) technical aspect out there in the field with NRCS," Thompson said. "Agricultural and urban and rural conservation are all part of the future. We are all taught that we have a responsibility to protect our natural resources."
