SENATE BILL REPORT

SB 6526

BYSenators Barr, Hansen, Bauer and Zimmerman

Authorizing conservation district assessments.

Senate Committee on Agriculture

Senate Hearing Date(s):January 29, 1988; February 2, 1988

Majority Report:  That Substitute Senate Bill No. 6526 be substituted therefor, and the substitute bill do pass.

      Signed by Senators Barr, Chairman; Bailey, Hansen, Rinehart.

Senate Staff:Kaleen Cottingham (786-7415)

                  February 2, 1988

AS REPORTED BY COMMITTEE ON AGRICULTURE, FEBRUARY 2, 1988

BACKGROUND:

The conservation districts were established in 1973 and given the charge to conserve soil resources, control and prevent soil erosion, and prevent flood and sediment damage by encouraging soil conserving land use practices.  Some of the activities that the districts encourage are strip cropping, contour cultivating, rotation of crops, best agricultural management practices, planting soil-holding crops, and withdrawal from cultivation highly erosive areas, to name a few.

The conservation districts are viewed as the first line approach in getting farmers to change methods of operation which may degrade the environment.  The districts use grants, incentives and education to accomplish their goals.  Funding for the districts comes from numerous sources:  2-1/2 percent of the water quality account (cigarette tax) and other legislatively appropriated funds.

SUMMARY:

The conservation districts are authorized to levy special assessments to fund their programs.  Districts so choosing shall submit a budget to the county and shall establish a "system of assessment" in which lands are classified according to the benefits conferred by the district.

Assessments, if levied, shall either be uniform per acre in each class or flat rate per parcel plus a uniform rate per acre.  If no benefit, no assessment shall be levied.

A public hearing must be held by the county legislative authority prior to the adoption of an ordinance finalizing the assessment system.

Notice of assessment will accompany the notice of property taxes due and shall be collected by the county treasurer.  Delinquent assessments shall be foreclosed in the same manner as delinquent property taxes.  The county may collect up to 1 percent of the assessment for the cost of collection.

Any owner is entitled to a hearing before the district on any assessment levied.  Any final action shall be subject to judicial review.

EFFECT OF PROPOSED SUBSTITUTE:

Conservation district assessments against public lands shall be according to RCW 79.44 (which addresses public lands subject to any assessment).  Forest lands subject to conservation assessment shall be at 1/10 the per parcel rate or the weighted average.  The maximum assessment shall be 3 cents per acre.

Appropriation:    none

Revenue:    yes

Fiscal Note:      requested January 20, 1988

Senate Committee - Testified: Howard Jaeger, Washington Association of Conservation Districts (for); Ronald Juris, Washington Association of Conservation Districts and Eastern Klickitat Conservation District (for); Richard Junk, Washington Forest Protection Association (against); John Andrews, Snohomish Conservation District (for)