en.Wedoany.com Reported - Eliot Clay, Executive Director of the Association of Illinois Soil and Water Conservation Districts (AISWCD), stated that the association's efforts to secure stable funding for the state's soil and water conservation districts are not yet complete. A proposal that has garnered bipartisan support in the state legislature could provide a new source of funding.

Clay explained that the proposal imposes a $67 fee per acre of agricultural land taken out of production, to be paid by developers. This fee would go into the operating fund of the soil and water conservation districts, creating a sustainable funding source. The plan has received support from both sides of the political spectrum. Clay noted that the state's soil and water conservation districts have historically relied on the general revenue fund, requiring annual lobbying efforts. Many legislators not only endorsed the idea but even questioned why the fee was not set higher. The proposal has not yet entered the committee discussion stage. Clay expressed optimism that the proposal would advance during the fall veto session. He pointed out that many legislators have recognized the severity of the state's revenue issues, and this bill appears to have broad bipartisan support, so they hope to convey this emerging solution to the public.

This marks the third consecutive year that Illinois' soil and water conservation districts have received $4.5 million in state budget allocations, a level $4 million lower than three years ago. Clay stated that the new proposal is estimated to generate $4 million in funding, precisely filling that gap.

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