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A Millage to Help Fund the WCCD
On April 22nd, the Washtenaw County Board of Commissioners voted to approve placing a millage question on the August 4th ballot on behalf of the WCCD. The .02 mil, 6-year levy would raise an estimated $348,109 for the Conservation District annually. The estimated cost to a household of an assessed value of $100,000, would be $2.00 per year.
The WCCD has been without general operating support for over a decade. Millage funds would be used to:
-Provide adequate staffing to create a stable organizational infrastructure.
-Provide matching funds for competitive grants.
-Provide funds for existing and expanded programming
On April 22nd, the Washtenaw County Board of Commissioners voted to approve placing a millage question on the August 4th ballot on behalf of the WCCD. The .02 mil, 6-year levy would raise an estimated $348,109 for the Conservation District annually. The estimated cost to a household of an assessed value of $100,000, would be $2.00 per year.
The WCCD has been without general operating support for over a decade. Millage funds would be used to:
-Provide adequate staffing to create a stable organizational infrastructure.
-Provide matching funds for competitive grants.
-Provide funds for existing and expanded programming
How does WCCD currently serve residents?
The WCCD assists residents and landowners with the conservation, management and wise use of natural resources in Washtenaw County through:
PROTECT SOIL, INCREASE TREE PLANTING AND SEQUESTER CARBON: Through annual resource distributions of trees, plants & tools for Conservation. Over 7.1 million trees and plants that have been planted as a result of WCCD’s work since 1948.
PROTECT CLEAN WATER: Through the Michigan Agricultural Environmental Assurance Program (MAEAP), an innovative, non-regulatory, proactive program that helps farms of all sizes and all commodities voluntarily prevent pollution risks.
INCREASE COMMUNITY CAPACITY: The WCCD provides seasonal educational workshops on how to implement conservation on the ground through educational offerings geared toward backyard hobbyists and agricultural producers.
PROTECT NATIVE ECOSYSTEMS AND HABITAT: Provide education, outreach and some mitigation assistance around invasive species (e.g. Stiltgrass, Japanese knotweed, Frogbit, etc) that threaten the health of our natural areas.
CONNECTING CONSERVATION RESOURCES: The WCCD serves as a one-stop location for conservation information through our website, site-specific assistance from Conservation experts on how to address needs, planning assistance for various programs and connecting residents and landowners to local, state and federal cost-share opportunities.
The WCCD assists residents and landowners with the conservation, management and wise use of natural resources in Washtenaw County through:
PROTECT SOIL, INCREASE TREE PLANTING AND SEQUESTER CARBON: Through annual resource distributions of trees, plants & tools for Conservation. Over 7.1 million trees and plants that have been planted as a result of WCCD’s work since 1948.
PROTECT CLEAN WATER: Through the Michigan Agricultural Environmental Assurance Program (MAEAP), an innovative, non-regulatory, proactive program that helps farms of all sizes and all commodities voluntarily prevent pollution risks.
INCREASE COMMUNITY CAPACITY: The WCCD provides seasonal educational workshops on how to implement conservation on the ground through educational offerings geared toward backyard hobbyists and agricultural producers.
PROTECT NATIVE ECOSYSTEMS AND HABITAT: Provide education, outreach and some mitigation assistance around invasive species (e.g. Stiltgrass, Japanese knotweed, Frogbit, etc) that threaten the health of our natural areas.
CONNECTING CONSERVATION RESOURCES: The WCCD serves as a one-stop location for conservation information through our website, site-specific assistance from Conservation experts on how to address needs, planning assistance for various programs and connecting residents and landowners to local, state and federal cost-share opportunities.
The Friends of the Washtenaw County Conservation District, a newly formed ballot initiative group independent of WCCD, will be conducting outreach related to the WCCD millage. Hannah Bradshaw, an Associate Director with the WCCD, is serving as the Campaign Coordinator and Treasurer for the group. If you are interested in helping with this effort, please contact Hannah at friendsWCCD@gmail.com, 734.645-8760. Read more about the Friends of the WCCD on Facebook @FriendsWCCD. Please contact Hannah for donations to assist with mailings and online outreach.
