Everett, Wash.
Published: Saturday, July 4, 2009

Support shown for new land fee for conservation district

The County Council has asked for a draft proposal that would raise money for the conservation district.

By Noah Haglund
Herald Writer

 EVERETT -- Farmers, foresters and rural landowners pleaded with the Snohomish County Council this week to impose a fee to help people manage their land.

A similar request last year went nowhere.

The money would fund the Snohomish Conservation District, which gives advice on managing natural resources for farmland, backyard gardens and more. The district has no regulatory power.

"If the Snohomish Conservation District was listed on the New York Stock Exchange, I would be an investor," said Bill Best of Arlington, one of the 12 supporters who spoke during a public hearing. "I suggest that you do the same."

Under the proposal, a new $5 fee would be charged for every land parcel, plus 5 cents per acre. The owner of a 10-acre parcel would pay an extra $5.50 per year.

A similar draft that the council requested in September never materialized.

Councilmen asked for it again on Wednesday, by a 3-1 vote, but did not set a timeline. They also wanted to know how much it would cost the assessor and the treasurer to collect the fee, which supporters said would total more than $1 million per year.

The lone no vote came from Councilman John Koster. While saying the district does "great work," he objected to the added cost.

The fee would come on top of storm-water fees that shot up about 150 percent this year in much of the county.

"I just don't see now as the time to go and tag people for more" money, Koster said.

His remarks sparked an exchange with Councilman Dave Somers, who had suggested lowering the current storm-water fees to compensate for the new charge. Koster said he might support the idea if both issues -- imposing the new fee and lowering the existing one -- were addressed at the same time.

Councilman Dave Gossett said his support depended, in part, on having an agreement specifying how the money could be spent. Council Chairman Mike Cooper was unable to attend the hearing.

A dozen other counties in Washington have assessments to fund conservation districts.

The Snohomish district serves residents in unincorporated areas and in areas annexed to towns and cities after 1941, when the district started. The cities of Snohomish and Arlington form part of the district, too.

Its budget comes from the county's general fund, surface water fees, the Stillaguamish Clean Water District and grants. The district is working on a separate assessment for Camano Island with the Whidbey Island Conservation District.



Noah Haglund: 425-339-3465 or nhaglund@heraldnet.com.
© 2009The Daily Herald Co., Everett, WA