Compendium of Budget Information for the 2009 General Session

Natural Resources
Appropriations Subcommittee
Subcommittee Table of Contents

Agency: Agriculture

Line Item: Resource Conservation

Function

The Resource Conservation line item encompasses three programs: Resource Conservation Administration, Conservation Commission, and Conservation Districts (CD). Most of the funds in the line item go to the 38 individual CDs or their state association, the Utah Association of Conservation Districts (UACD).

There is more demand on the state's private lands and water resources than ever. The purpose of the programs in this line item is to curb the loss of soil and water to natural erosion, man-caused pollution, and poor land use planning. There are many programs that have been developed to solve these problems. Most are voluntary and incentive-based, and most are delivered through the CDs.

Statutory Authority

The following laws govern operations in this line item:

  • UCA 4-18-4 creates the fourteen-member Conservation Commission as an agency of the state functioning within the Department of Agriculture and Food. UCA 4-18-5 spells out the duties of the commission. Some of these duties include:

    • Make strategies and programs to protect, conserve, utilize, and develop soil and water resources
    • Disseminate information regarding the districts' activities
    • Approve and make loans from the Agriculture Resource Development Fund for rangeland improvement, watershed and flood prevention, cropland soil and water conservation, and energy efficient farming projects
    • Coordinate soil and water protection actions of state and other entities
    • Employ an administrator and necessary technical experts as employees

  • UCA 4-18-6.5 allows the commission to make grants to improve manure management or control runoff at animal feeding operations.
  • UCA 4-18-14 allows any conservation district to implement a Utah Conservation Corps program.
  • UCA 17A-3-Part 8 governs conservation districts. Section 805 lists the districts' functions, powers, and duties.

Intent Language

    Under the terms of UCA 63-38-8.1, the Legislature intends not to lapse Item 200, Chapter 1, Laws of Utah 2007. Expenditures of these funds is limited to: Computer Equipment/Software $3,000; Employee Training/Incentives $2,000.

Funding Detail

Sources of Finance
2005
Actual
2006
Actual
2007
Actual
2008
Actual
2009
Approp
General Fund $946,500 $953,800 $982,400 $1,238,800 $1,228,100
General Fund, One-time $1,000 $94,800 $104,600 $0 $0
Federal Funds $0 $22,100 $7,900 $0 $0
Dedicated Credits Revenue $500 $400 $300 $500 $0
Restricted Revenue $0 $5,700 $0 $0 $0
Agri Resource Development $333,300 $327,600 $333,300 $333,300 $386,100
Beginning Nonlapsing $1,900 $4,700 $2,900 $5,000 $0
Closing Nonlapsing ($4,700) ($2,900) ($5,100) $0 ($3,700)
Lapsing Balance ($400) $0 ($3,000) $0 $0
Total
$1,278,100
$1,406,200
$1,423,300
$1,577,600
$1,610,500
 
Programs:
2005
Actual
2006
Actual
2007
Actual
2008
Actual
2009
Approp
Resource Conservation Administration $125,200 $131,900 $167,800 $173,600 $172,000
Soil Conservation Commission $8,700 $108,800 $8,800 $8,800 $8,800
Resource Conservation $1,144,200 $1,165,500 $1,246,700 $1,395,200 $1,429,700
Total
$1,278,100
$1,406,200
$1,423,300
$1,577,600
$1,610,500
 
Categories of Expenditure
2005
Actual
2006
Actual
2007
Actual
2008
Actual
2009
Approp
Personal Services $167,900 $168,900 $182,400 $232,700 $244,700
In-State Travel $48,400 $56,500 $62,200 $78,800 $55,000
Out of State Travel $3,200 $2,500 $2,200 $2,700 $3,700
Current Expense $14,900 $20,900 $23,700 $28,400 $16,800
DP Current Expense $4,100 $500 $4,900 $3,400 $0
Other Charges/Pass Thru $1,039,600 $1,156,900 $1,147,900 $1,231,600 $1,290,300
Total
$1,278,100
$1,406,200
$1,423,300
$1,577,600
$1,610,500
 
Other Indicators
2005
Actual
2006
Actual
2007
Actual
2008
Actual
2009
Approp
Budgeted FTE 2.0 2.0 1.9 1.8 2.0






Subcommittee Table of Contents

Program: Resource Conservation Administration

Function

This program complies with the Department's mandate (UCA 4-2-2(1)(o)) to "assist the Conservation Commission in the administration of [the Conservation Commission Act] and administer and disburse any funds which are available for the purpose of assisting soil conservation districts." In other words, this program provides administrative support to the Conservation Commission.

Even-numbered years elections are held in each of the 38 conservation districts. Funds are provided each year, but are held during non-election years in a nonlapsing account.

Funding Detail

Funding from the Agriculture Resource Development Fund is used to cover costs of technical support to the Agricultural Resource Development Loan (ARDL) program.

Sources of Finance
2005
Actual
2006
Actual
2007
Actual
2008
Actual
2009
Approp
General Fund $121,300 $128,600 $157,200 $164,200 $170,000
General Fund, One-time $1,000 ($5,200) $4,600 $0 $0
Restricted Revenue $0 $5,700 $0 $0 $0
Agri Resource Development $5,700 $0 $5,700 $5,700 $5,700
Beginning Nonlapsing $1,900 $4,700 $2,900 $5,000 $0
Closing Nonlapsing ($4,600) ($1,900) ($2,600) ($1,300) ($3,700)
Lapsing Balance ($100) $0 $0 $0 $0
Total
$125,200
$131,900
$167,800
$173,600
$172,000
 
Categories of Expenditure
2005
Actual
2006
Actual
2007
Actual
2008
Actual
2009
Approp
Personal Services $108,300 $112,600 $126,800 $145,200 $150,900
In-State Travel $3,000 $3,800 $3,500 $2,900 $3,900
Out of State Travel $2,600 $2,500 $2,200 $2,700 $3,700
Current Expense $7,200 $12,500 $12,400 $14,400 $8,300
DP Current Expense $4,100 $500 $4,900 $3,400 $0
Other Charges/Pass Thru $0 $0 $18,000 $5,000 $5,200
Total
$125,200
$131,900
$167,800
$173,600
$172,000
 
Other Indicators
2005
Actual
2006
Actual
2007
Actual
2008
Actual
2009
Approp
Budgeted FTE 2.0 2.0 1.9 1.8 2.0






Subcommittee Table of Contents

Program: Soil Conservation Commission

Function

The purpose of this program is to provide funding for the per diems of seven Conservation District supervisors who sit on the Conservation Commission (UCA 4-18-4). Each Conservation District has five locally elected individuals serving as supervisors, from whom the members of the Conservation Commission are chosen.

Funding Detail

Sources of Finance
2005
Actual
2006
Actual
2007
Actual
2008
Actual
2009
Approp
General Fund $8,800 $8,800 $8,800 $8,800 $8,800
General Fund, One-time $0 $100,000 $0 $0 $0
Closing Nonlapsing ($100) $0 $0 $0 $0
Total
$8,700
$108,800
$8,800
$8,800
$8,800
 
Categories of Expenditure
2005
Actual
2006
Actual
2007
Actual
2008
Actual
2009
Approp
Personal Services $1,900 $2,200 $1,700 $2,100 $3,100
In-State Travel $6,700 $6,800 $7,000 $6,700 $5,600
Current Expense $100 $100 $100 $0 $100
Other Charges/Pass Thru $0 $99,700 $0 $0 $0
Total
$8,700
$108,800
$8,800
$8,800
$8,800
Subcommittee Table of Contents

Program: Resource Conservation

Function

The purpose of this program is to channel funds (pass-through) by direct payment of contracts to individual Conservation Districts (CD) and/or Utah Association of Conservation Districts to fulfill CD statutory duties relative to soil and water conservation (see UCA 17A-3-805). CDs have no taxing authority. They depend on the Conservation Commission for their board of directors, elections, and accountability.

Funding Detail

Sources of Finance
2005
Actual
2006
Actual
2007
Actual
2008
Actual
2009
Approp
General Fund $816,400 $816,400 $816,400 $1,065,800 $1,049,300
General Fund, One-time $0 $0 $100,000 $0 $0
Federal Funds $0 $22,100 $7,900 $0 $0
Dedicated Credits Revenue $500 $400 $300 $500 $0
Agri Resource Development $327,600 $327,600 $327,600 $327,600 $380,400
Closing Nonlapsing $0 ($1,000) ($2,500) $1,300 $0
Lapsing Balance ($300) $0 ($3,000) $0 $0
Total
$1,144,200
$1,165,500
$1,246,700
$1,395,200
$1,429,700
 
Categories of Expenditure
2005
Actual
2006
Actual
2007
Actual
2008
Actual
2009
Approp
Personal Services $57,700 $54,100 $53,900 $85,400 $90,700
In-State Travel $38,700 $45,900 $51,700 $69,200 $45,500
Out of State Travel $600 $0 $0 $0 $0
Current Expense $7,600 $8,300 $11,200 $14,000 $8,400
Other Charges/Pass Thru $1,039,600 $1,057,200 $1,129,900 $1,226,600 $1,285,100
Total
$1,144,200
$1,165,500
$1,246,700
$1,395,200
$1,429,700
Subcommittee Table of Contents