2008 Policy Book Now Available

Developing and implementing the association's legislative program. 

• Develop and carry out a legislative program that incorporates all legislative objectives approved by the association at its annual meeting

• Develop objectives on needed legislation for consideration by the association

• Develop policy on specific state and national legislation under consideration or enacted, for consideration of the association

• Hold meetings before and during the annual meeting of the association

2009 Committee Members

• Donald N. Cox (Orange), Chair

• Bill Alston (Randolph), Vice Chair

• Kelly Whitaker (Randolph), Recorder

Resource Contacts

• Pat Harris                     Division of Soil and Water Conservation

• Ralston James             Division of Soil and Water Conservation

• Mary Combs                 USDA- Natural Resources Conservation Service

• Gail Hughes                  NC District Employees' Association

1. The Association requests and supports funding for the statewide Community Conservation Assistance Program, Session Law 2006-78 passed during the 2006 session of the legislature. The Association requests an increase in the amount of funding to $3.4 million. Funding should not come from a reduction in the NCACSP or negatively affect increases in the NCACSP funding. 2009

2. The Association will seek funding for the NC Agriculture Cost Share Program best management practices fund and staffing cost match to counties. The Association will request additional amounts of $500,000 for best management practices and $1,000,000 for technical assistance match. 2009

3. The Association will request that the North Carolina General Assembly increase the appropriation of recurring funds made available each year to reimburse District Supervisors for necessary travel and training expenses in the conduct of their official duties by $50,000.00 and increase matching funds by $400,000.00 during the 2009-2010 budget process. The Association requests that its President, the Soil and Water Conservation Commission Chairman, Director of the Division of Soil and Water Conservation, and NRCS State Conservationist work in concert with the Department of Environment and Natural Resources and the General Assembly to achieve this priority funding need. 2009

4. The Association will request that the General Assembly fund three (3) engineering positions as part of the 2009-2010 budget process. 2009

5. The Association will seek an appropriation of $50,000 for the 2009 National Envirothon to be hosted in North Carolina. 2009

6. The Association President will: immediately following the annual meeting, write to the National Association of Conservation Districts (NACD) to request that the matter of declining NRCS technical assistance funding be considered a high priority for NACD, and ask for feedback from NACD on actions planned and/or taken to address this issue, and by March 1, 2009, write to all North Carolina members of Congress, with copies to the chairs of the House and Senate Appropriations Committees, the Secretary of Agriculture, and the Director of the Office of Management and Budget, expressing support for the increased funding to NRCS which will allow for one District Conservationist per Conservation District. 2009

7. The Association recognizes and thanks the President and officers of the NC Farm Bureau Federation for their support. 2007

8. The Association recognizes and thanks the NC Coastal Federation for their legislative support in 2008. 2009

Policies & Positions

1.            The Association expresses its appreciation to the members of the General Assembly for their continued support given to the Agriculture Cost Share Program for Nonpoint Source Pollution Control, and their support in sustaining the local conservation infrastructure in Soil and Water Conservation Districts.  The Association strongly encourages the General Assembly to continue to provide strong support for non-regulatory programs delivered through local Soil and Water Conservation Districts. 2004

2.       The Association supports the restoration of full technical assistance funding for the NRCS to the level required to have one District Conservationist per Conservation District. 2009

3.            The Association supports recognition by the Environmental Protection Agency, and state and local water quality programs that nonpoint source program funding seriously lags behind point source programs, and is not allocated to North Carolina based on the attributed nonpoint source proportion of the water quality problem.  2007

4.            The Association supports federal and state legislation or other action to compensate landowners, through tax benefits or other incentives, for conservation actions taken in response to federal and state regulations for wetlands, animal waste management, buffers, and other water quality related programs. 2003

5.             The Association believes that a collaborative and coordinated effort by the Section 319 Program is essential to achieve clean water goals, and urges the North Carolina Congressional Delegation to support the continued funding of the Section 319 grant program. 2007

6.             The Association emphasizes its support for the NC Pilot Program for inspections of animal waste management systems. 2007

7.            The Association will take action through NACD (e.g., via resolutions) to ensure North Carolina plays a leadership role in dealing with national conservation issues. 2003

8.             The Association will support action in the General Assembly to increase funding for the NC Farmland Preservation Trust Fund as stated in Article 61 of NC General Statute 106-744, for the purchase of Agriculture Conservation Easements. 2003

9.      The North Carolina General Assembly should adequately fund the Clean Water Management Trust Fund for fiscal year 2009-2010. 2009