From: Marilyn Holt <mjholt@...>
Subject: [KitsapMPPU] FW: [pugetsoundfresh] URGENT RESPONSE NEEDED NOW: Conservation Commission to be eliminated - Please call your representatives today
To: KitsapFarmer@yahoogroups.com, KitsapMPPU@yahoogroups.com, FFPC_Kitsap@yahoogroups.com, vanguard-disc@yahoogroups.com
Date: Wednesday, February 22, 2012, 11:44 AM

 

Please read this plea from CHC, and contact your representative letting them know that Washington State Conservation Commission should be funded and continue as a standalone project. BTW, most conservation districts pay most of their own way.

 

From: pugetsoundfresh@... [mailto:pugetsoundfresh@...] On Behalf Of Mary Embleton
Sent: Wednesday, February 22, 2012 10:47 AM
To: Cascade Harvest Coalition
Cc: Puget Sound Fresh; FarmLink
Subject: [pugetsoundfresh] URGENT RESPONSE NEEDED NOW: Conservation Commission to be eliminated - Please call your representatives today
Importance: High

 

The House of Representatives is proposing to dissolve the Washington State Conservation Commission. This will eliminate funding for all conservation districts from WSCC grants after July 1, 2012 – 2013 and potentially onward. This would result in shutting down many conservation districts throughout the state and would directly and negatively impact farmers, farmland owners and other land owners relying on the stewardship, planning and cost-share services provided by the CD’s.  These are critically important programs.

There will be a hearing/public meeting at 3:30 pm today. It is critical that Representatives hear from you this morning.  Please share this message as you are able.

To find and contact your local Representatives in the House: http://apps.leg.wa.gov/districtfinder/

The Governor's budget had WCC cut 10% not eliminated....below is the budget language explanation.

2. Eliminate Conservation Commission - The WSCC will be eliminated effective July 1, 2012. To achieve the level of savings

indicated, the WSCC must amend and cancel all FY 2013 grants to districts, and assumes ancillary and other remaining costs will yield

25 percent and 50 percent state general fund savings each half of FY 2013. (General Fund-State, General Fund-Federal)

3. Conservation Commission Functions - Effective July 1, 2012, most remaining functions and some staff from the Conservation

Commission will be transferred to the WSDA. Funding is provided to ensure the transition has as minimal an impact as possible.

(General Fund-State, General Fund-Federal)

House Office of Program Research–Fiscal Committees: RecSum Page 83

 

Mary Embleton

Executive Director

Cascade Harvest Coalition "We are your local food and farming resource center."

Programs Eat Local for Thanksgiving | Puget Sound Fresh | WA FarmLink | Farm-to-Table

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To find and contact your local Representatives in the House: http://apps.leg.wa.gov/districtfinder/

 

Thanks for the assistance to preserve the WSCC and district funding.