Thursday, October 1, 2026
The Thurston Conservation District turned to the Tumwater City Council for support as it seeks to increase rates.
At a city council meeting on Tuesday, Aug. 18, conservation district representatives talked about programs and ongoing efforts to increase rates, which would need approval from the Thurston County Board of County Commissioners.
The conservation district is a special purpose district established in 1947 under Washington law to protect farms, forests and natural landscapes in the county. Through voluntary and nonregulatory programs, the entity works with farmers and landowners to improve soil health and water quality.
TJ Johnson, chair of the Thurston Conservation District Board of Supervisors, said the current funding rate is $5 per parcel and 10 cents per acre. The district collects about $500,000 every year through the rate structure.
The collected funds represent a small portion of the district’s overall budget. Johnson said the budget for this year is around $10 million, most of which comes from state and federal grants.
He said the risk of losing grants prompted the district to seek a more sustainable funding strategy, leading to the consideration of raising rates.
He said if passed, the new per acre rate would equal an additional 6 cents per day for the average Thurston County proper owner and bring in an additional $2 million per year.
A public hearing held by the board on the proposal garnered positive feedback, according to Johnson. The conservation district is also seeking to raise the per parcel rate to $25 — a move recent state law allows.
“We had 28 people testify either in person, online, or in writing, and all 28 of those people said, ‘Please raise my taxes,’” he said.
Johnson asked the council for support as the proposal goes to the Thurston County Board of County Commissioners, which could hold a public hearing on the issue later this year.
“We would very much like to see individually as council members or potentially collectively as a council, we'd like to see you weigh in in favor of that, recognizing that this additional money can do a lot for our community with farmland, as well as all the other great conservation work that we're going to do,” Johnson said.
Mayor Leatta Dahlhoff asked if the district has a letter of support they could present to the council, which Johnson said he would follow up on.
Johnson said half of the $2 million in additional funding from an increased per acre rate would go toward farmland preservation.
“Right now, the only source of farmland preservation money in Thurston County is the Conservation Futures dollars,” Johnson said. “We have an additional million dollars to bring to the table. It's going to be a game changer for protecting farms in this region.”
Conservation Futures is Thurston County’s land preservation program that allows conservation groups to use funds provided by the county to acquire property or future development rights from interested landowners.
The other half of the money would go toward a whole range of initiatives, including development of a conservation education center.
Thurston Conservation District Executive Director Sarah Moorehead said staff are thinking about locating the center in Tumwater.
“Sort of our sweet spot geographic area that we're looking at is right here in Tumwater — in sort of south Tumwater area,” Moorehead said. “We want to be close to I-5, we want to be centralized in the county, and that puts us right in your backyard.”
The center would serve as a regional hub for demonstrations and partnerships, as well as a space where people can visit for technical assistance. Moorehead added the center might house a new Four Seasons Farmers Market based on conversations staff has had with the former board members of Tumwater Farmers Market.
“Folks really want to see a space that they can come learn firsthand (and) see some of the work that we do,” Moorehead said. “A lot of what we do is on private landscapes, and so they want to come and see what conservation looks like on the ground.”
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MartyKenney
I dont usually agree with the tax raising sentiment, but this seems like a good one for the community, for $18/yr. I prefer conservation measures to large developers getting the land.
Friday, August 21 Report this
TheVirtualOne
This is not necessary and is just another example of government spending out of control. Increasing this tax is would only make being a property owner more expensive and impose yet another tax by out of control bureaucrats that citizens have not had a vote on. Stop reaching into our wallets for your pet projects.
Friday, August 21 Report this
Esther
The Conservation district does great and important work. They are thinking long term about preserving the County’s vital natural resources. I have gotten great advice from them about managing my property. I’m happy to pay another $15 a year to increase their very positive impact on our quality of life.
Friday, August 21 Report this
Boatyarddog
TheVirtualOne. LAND CONSERVATION is NEVER a pet project. It is ALWAYS a WIN for Future Generations to come.
Wake up Grandpa!
Friday, August 21 Report this
Tanker1982
I am sure they do fine work and I will research it. BUT , if the federal government $40 trillion in debt) , and the state government, ruled by DEMOCRATS, cut funding (ask why) , the obvious local solution is to raise taxes? Affordability? How many stories in the JOLT opinion support $30 here, $30 there, $100 there. Enough
Friday, August 21 Report this
OlyBlues
Paying extra to preserve farmland is one thing, but like most other government entities they are never satisfied with just meeting basic needs and want fancy, expensive and unnecessary projects like this conservation education center that is not needed, in demand, or affordable. Thurston Conservation District loses ALL credibility by seeking this excess wasteful project. It's unfortunate because they appear to be tone deaf to struggling families who cannot afford tax increases.
Saturday, August 22 Report this
Boatyarddog
Tanker1982. The 40 trillion Deficit You speak of is NOT a Democrats doing. That was TRUMP, and cutting funds for land conservation, as well every Environmental program out there. States NOW must cut back or lose the Work they've done over Many Years. A center that people can go to and learn WHY land conservation is So important, it give all of us The Opportunities to LEARN, that is What Republicans DON'T want. SO, because of The Republican Agenda, counties must resource from more local sources.
Saturday, August 22 Report this