09/02/2005: "New $5.00 Flat Tax: Conservation District"

In a move designed to raise money for the SJC Conservation District, the BOCC has approved a new flat tax of $5.00 per parcel for the next five years, and may extend it after five years, and another public hearing on the proposal. The District points out that " this is a flat fee per parcel which will not change with assessed valuation and that it is capped by state law". At the recent public hearing held to hear comment on the proposal no one spoke against it, and the motion to pass was unanimous.

According to the District, the tax will raise approximately $70,000.00 a year that will allow the Conservation District to plan and continue programs with some financial assurance they can be funded. Up to now the District has relied on grants and other sources of funding that are not constant, and this has prevented long range planning and the assured funding for the following programs the new tax will fund:

• Promoting and supporting sustainable agriculture and food security--$20,000;

• Watershed action (including water quality monitoring, habit restoration, promotion of conservation practices) --$20,000;

• Conservation incentive program (cost share assistance to landowners as an incentive for voluntary conservation practices that protect community resources)--$15,000;

• District basic operations that are not adequately supported by grant funds--$15,000.

More can be learned about the Conservation District by clicking on the following Link to their website