Save the Soil and Water Conservation District!
What does the District do?
Established in 1944, the Soil and Water Conservation District is a governmental agency that works to protect Jefferson County’s natural resources. This is done through a variety of means; technical assistance, financial assistance, and education.
The District has many programs to support its mission, please check them out to learn how we may be able to assist you with your conservation and urban agriculture needs.
What’s going on with the budget?
Mayor Greenberg released his proposed budget for the next fiscal year, which proposes the District’s already tiny budget be cut by over 73%. The District’s partner, the Extension Office, also faces a similarly large cut.
If Metro Council passes the budget without restoring funding to the District its employees will be terminated, its programs will cease, and conservation work will be severely damaged in Jefferson County.
This would leave Jefferson County as the only county in Kentucky that does not have a functioning conservation district.
The District’s Board of Supervisors calls on all residents to act in defense of conservation by demanding full funding of the District and the Extension Office.
What can I do?
Fill out the Budget Comment Form
Fill out your information.
Select your Council District.
Write a comment in the “general comments” box demanding that Metro Council fully fund the Soil and Water Conservation District and the County Extension Agency.
Select the category “Economic Development” from the drop down.
Write the same comment in the “department comments” box below the drop down.
Feel free to write your own comment, but here is one you can use:
As a resident of Jefferson County, I value our natural resources. The Mayor’s proposed budget left out critical funding for the Soil and Water Conservation District and County Extension Office that would lead to their closure. I call on Metro Council to be an ally in defending our county’s natural resources by fully funding the Conservation District and Extension Office.
Call your Council Member
In the box that pops up, click the link that takes you to your district’s website. There you will find the phone number for your council member’s office.
Call your council member’s office during business hours and demand that Metro Council fully fund the Conservation District and Extension Office.
You can come up with something to say yourself, but you can also just use the following:
As a resident of Jefferson County, I value our natural resources. The Mayor’s proposed budget left out critical funding for the Soil and Water Conservation District and County Extension Office that would lead to their closure. I call on Metro Council to be an ally in defending our county’s natural resources by fully funding the Conservation District and Extension Office.
Speak at the Metro Council Public Budget Comment Hearing on Thursday, May 23rd, at 6pm
Residents have the opportunity to speak before Metro Council about the budget on May 23 at 6pm. In-person sign-ups are required and begin at 5pm. You will have to arrive as early as possible to secure your speaking spot. Space is limited and you have 3 minutes to speak.
If you need help preparing to speak, you may find the District’s Community Value Summary helpful. You can also contact the District at (502) 499-1900 or admin@jeffcd.org and we will provide any additional guidance you may need.
Want to support at the hearing but don’t want to speak? Sign up to hold a sign while seated in the audience here.