State lawmakers have unveiled their proposed budgets, shaping the future of conservation funding in Washington.
The Washington State Conservation Commission (SCC) has compiled a summary comparing the House, Senate, and two Governor’s budget proposals.
Following Governor Inslee’s initial budget proposals and Governor Ferguson’s subsequent cost-cutting operating budget proposal, both the House and Senate have put forward their own financial plans.
Each proposal presents key differences, which are outlined in the budget narratives prepared by SCC staff.
For a detailed breakdown, explore the budget documents here.
Budget Highlights
As you will see from the comparison table, there are similarities and key differences between the proposed operating and capital budgets for SCC.
This is certainly a tough year for the budget. We are seeing some impacts to the programs that conservation districts rely on to serve their communities.
The good news is that, for the most part, the Conservation Technical Assistance funding has been left intact, aside from a minor proposed reduction in the House budget.
The Voluntary Stewardship Program has been left untouched, and it may even see a $1,000,000 increase for capital projects if the House prevails in their recommendation.
The Sustainable Farms and Fields program takes a very minor hit in both the Senate and House but is largely left whole. Funding for capital project programs has stayed the same, if not a bit higher, than what was initially proposed by Governor Inslee.
We are, however, seeing some tough reductions in other areas. The Forest Health and Community Wildfire Resiliency Program has taken a hit across the board. We continue to communicate with legislators on the impacts this will have not only to conservation districts, but to the health and safety of their communities.
We also see a significant cut in funding for outreach for our Riparian Grant Program.
What’s next?
The House and Senate budget committees will continue to work on their proposed budgets. The next step is for the two chambers to form conference committees to work through their differences and reach agreement.
This work will be taking place over the next few weeks. SCC will continue working to make sure legislators understand the impacts of budget reductions to conservation districts and, in turn, to their communities.
The two chambers should finalize an agreed upon budget for final passage prior to the scheduled end of session on April 27, 2025. (cutoff calendar)
After session, the Governor will have 20 days to review and sign the budget. He can also call a special session to bring legislators back to Olympia and allow additional time to resolve areas of disagreement.
Once enacted, the final 2025-27 budget will take effect on July 1, 2025.
