March 18, 2013

PACD Addresses Joint Conservation Commission Legislative Committee Meeting; Speaks to Demands Districts Face and Importance of Sustained Funding

From left to right: Dirt and Gravel Roads Center Director, Steve Bloser; Senator Scott Hutchinson; Maiden; and Representative Martin Clauser view a Dirt and Gravel Roads map.

On Monday, March 18, PACD Executive Director Robert Maiden addressed the Joint Conservation Commission Legislative Committee in the Main Capitol in downtown Harrisburg. Maiden spoke to the work of the districts including the Dirt and Gravel Roads Program, Erosion & Sediment activities, permitting and work in the Bay and Marcellus Shale regions. More than 30 legislative aides and staffers were in attendance for the hour-long meeting.  Click here to read more.

February 5, 2013

Conservation Districts Respond to Budget Cuts: Districts Need Funding Restored

Earlier today Governor Tom Corbett announced his proposed FY 2013-14 state budget to members of the legislature. Part of his budget includes a 100 percent decrease in line item funding to the state’s 66 conservation districts through the Departments of Agriculture and Environmental Protection.

“The conservation districts are extremely grateful for the state funding we have received to date, but we need to maintain our funding across the state, to meet the constantly increasing demands for our services,” noted Pennsylvania Association of Conservation Districts (PACD) Executive Director Robert Maiden. “Declines for districts equates to less staff, less education and outreach, and minimal projects being put in to practice.”

Conservation district staffs throughout Pennsylvania work to aid all sectors of the economy but most notably, they work to maintain the state’s number one industry: agriculture.

In 2008, the districts’ state line items funding level was at $5.4 million dollars. After that year, districts experienced a decline of 23 percent in state funding allotments. Last fiscal year, the districts received $4.2 million dollars in state funds through the Departmental line items.

“Agriculture is not only the number one economic driver in Pennsylvania, but it also feeds families, putting food on the table for residents across this commonwealth,” Maiden added. “In order for conservation districts to continue supporting that effort, they need funding. PACD respectfully requests that the legislature reinstate the conservation districts’ line item funding in the FY 2013-14 budget.”

For more information about the state’s conservation districts, visit www.pacd.org/CD.