On May 21, 2019, the Clackamas Soil and Water Conservation District Board of Directors adopted a budget for fiscal year 2019-2020 (July 1, 2019 through June 30, 2020).
THIS BUDGET IS DIFFERENT
The adopted budget is substantially different from budgets adopted in prior years. Starting in the current fiscal year, the Clackamas SWCD acquired debt to finance two substantial initiatives: acquisition of a 319-acre working forest and construction of a permanent headquarters facility. Expenditures related to these initiatives began this year and extend into FY 2019-2020.
While the budget deals with a single fiscal year, the strategic approach of the Clackamas SWCD has shifted to a much longer view. We are thinking 50 years and more into the future. Creating future conditions to improve the ability of the District to provide great service and to conserve natural resources is the driver behind the long-range initiatives the District has undertaken.
INCLUDES TWO LONG-TERM INVESTMENTS
Eagle Creek Community Forest
On March 28, 2019, the Clackamas SWCD became the owner of a 319-acre working forest near Estacada, Oregon. The District was awarded a $550,000 grant from the US Forest Service to help fund this acquisition through the Community Forest Program.
The Eagle Creek Community Forest will produce revenue that will be used to help maintain the property and to fund conservation programs and services. More than just being a working forest, the Forest is also the home to numerous wildlife species and it will provide recreational opportunities for the community.
An advisory committee is developing recommendations to help guide the Clackamas SWCD in the development of a Community Forest Plan. Learn more about the Eagle Creek Community Forest at a new website dedicated to that property: https://forest.conservationdistrict.org
Conservation Resource Center
The Clackamas SWCD Board of Directors has long dreamed of developing a permanent facility to improve our service. The acquisition of the Beavercreek Farm in 2013 heralded the beginning of this journey to achieve this dream. Submission of the building permit occurred in November 2018.
At the end of February 2019, we broke ground at the Beavercreek Farm to begin the construction of the Conservation Resource Center.
Rendering of the front of the Conservation Resource Center – facing Beavercreek Road
The building is large enough to house our existing staff and to provide space for our USDA partners, the Farm Service Agency and the Natural Resources Conservation Service. A lease with USDA has not yet been negotiated. That space is marked “future office” in the diagram below.
In the leased space that the Clackamas SWCD currently occupies, we have two rooms where we can meet with customers and partners. In the new building, we’ll have five spaces, not including a conference room in the USDA wing. Parking at the new facility will be much easier for our farm customers. These two factors — meeting space and parking — help improve our ability to provide service to our customers and partners.
In addition, we’ll be able to hold larger workshops and meetings in the new conference room. During nice weather, the conference room can be opened up to the plaza, greatly expanding the space available for educational events and meetings.
Conceptual floor plan of the new Conservation Resource Center
We expect to be moving into the new Conservation Resource Center by the end of calendar year 2019.
ADOPTED BUDGET MAINTAINS SERVICES
The adopted budget maintains a high level of investment in on-the-ground conservation actions and continues our work to manage invasive species in Clackamas County. The adopted budget also includes significant expenditures for the construction of a new office, meeting, and education facility.
Download the adopted budget here:
CSWCD-Budget-FY_1920-ADOPTED-21May2019-ALL_PAGES.pdf
Version: ADOPTED
MORE
Hearing held
On May 21, 2019, the Board of Directors held a public hearing on the budget immediately before their regular Board meeting.
Resolution adopted
Resolution 2019-007 was adopted by the Board of Directors on May 21, 2019. This resolution adopts the budget, makes appropriations, levies the property tax, and categorizes the tax.
Property tax rate
For fiscal year 2019-2020, the Board of Directors maintained the property tax levy rate at the same rate as in recent years: 5.0 cents per thousand dollars of assessed property value. The five-cent rate is the maximum rate the District can levy to provide programs and services to the more than 400,000 people in Clackamas County.
Documents filed with County
Clackamas SWCD staff have filed the appropriate forms and documents with the Clackamas County Assessor and Clackamas County Clerk.
FOR MORE INFORMATION
If you have questions about the District’s adopted budget or about the budgeting process, please contact General Manager Tom Salzer. We thank the entire Budget Committee for working smoothly and effectively through the budget process this year.
BUDGET DOCUMENTS AVAILABLE TO DOWNLOAD
CSWCD-FY-1920-_Budget_Calendar-Mtgs_Only-APPROVED-2-12-19.pdf
Version: APPROVED
CSWCD-FY_2019_2020-Budget_Message-Appendix_1-Budgeting_Processes_and_Requirements.pdf
CSWCD-FY_2019_2020-Budget_Message-Appendix_2-Policies_and_Performance.pdf
CSWCD-FY_2019_2020-Budget_Message-Appendix_3-Economic_Conditions_and_Management.pdf
CSWCD-FY_2019_2020-Budget_Message-Appendix_4-About_the_Clackamas_SWCD.pdf
CSWCD-Budget-FY_1920-PROPOSED-30March2019-ALL_SHEETS.pdf
CSWCD-Budget-FY_1920-PROPOSED-26April2019-ALL_SHEETS.pdf
CSWCD-Budget-FY_1920-APPROVED-30April2019-ALL_SHEETS.pdf
Version: 30April2019
CSWCD-Budget-FY_1920-ADOPTED-21May2019-ALL_PAGES.pdf
Version: ADOPTED
Budget-FY1920-SUPPLEM-ADOPTED-2020-03-17_Cover-Sheets_2.pdf
