ASHLAND — The Ashland Soil and Water Conservation District is hoping 2022 will be the first year since 2018 to get a raise.
ASWCD Program Administrator Jane Houin made the $60,000 ask Thursday during her appropriations presentation to the county board of commissioners.
The $60,000 represents a “bare bones” $6,000 increase from 2019, 2020 and 2021 budgets and would be earmarked specifically for soil and water programming.
Houin hopes to maintain levels of funding for county planning ($18,000) floodplain administration ($6,000) and auditor conservation checks ($5,000) for a grand total of $89,000 in local appropriations.
The conservation district’s budget would increase to around $235,000 after state and outside grant funding, Houin estimated.
Local funding, which is often met by state grant match dollars, covers salary and benefits for Houin and rent for one of the conservation district’s office.
“It is vital that we increase local appropriations to enable our staff to implement hands-on conservation (programming) to protect Ashland County’s soil and water resources,” reads the conservation district’s appropriations report to county commissioners.
Local appropriations for the soil and water district amounted to $99,000 in 2007. Appropriations have never exceeded that number, and dipped to an all-time low of $23,500 in 2009.
A conservation district, first created in 1937 by Georgia legislation, protects soil and water resources through educational and technical practices.
“I’m not here for a pity party but I’ve got the funding levels of all the surrounding counties for their soil and water offices,” Houin said, addressing the commissioners.
Next door Richland County had $248,000 in soil and water funds, according to 2021 figures. Wayne County had $325,931 and Medina County had $153,080. Huron County had $180,000 and Lorain County saw $95,000.
Despite low local buy-in, the soil and water conservation district was recognized as the 2020 Ohio SWCD of the Year by the Ohio Federation of Soil and Water Conservation Districts.
Ashland’s district provides soil testing, a cover crop program, watershed planning, urban agriculture, a log jam removal program and programs for Amish and Mennonite communities, among others.
Houin estimated the district’s programming offers the county with a $4.68 return on investment, meaning that amount comes back for every $1 spent on soil and water efforts.
