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S.F. No. 3843 - Providing Funding for Soil and Water Conservation Districts
 
Author: Senator Carrie Ruud
 
Prepared By: Eric S. Silvia, Senate Counsel (651/296-1771)
 
Date: April 10, 2018



 

Section 1. Budget. Provides that a soil and water conservation district board shall annually present a work plan to the county where located and further provides that the soil and water conservation board may adopt and certify an annual levy.

Section 2. Water resource management. Provides that soil and water conservation supervisors may conduct studies and monitor soil and water resources in the district and implement programs to manage soil and water resources.

Section 3. District funds, levies, and charges.

Subd. 1. District operations fund. Authorizes a soil and water conservation district to create an operations fund. Deposits to the fund include tax levy proceeds, and revenues received from the county and revenue collected from charges associated with establishing a soil and water management area.

Subd. 2. Soil and water management fund. Authorizes a soil and water conservation district to create a soil and water management fund. Deposits to this fund include charges levied against real property in one of more soil and water management area for implementing special projects and programs of the district or to match grants, and revenue received from a county, state, or federal agency for implementing special projects and programs.

Subd. 3. Budget hearing. Requires that before adopting a budget, the district must hold a public hearing with required public notice.

Subd. 4. Budget adoption. Requires that the district adopt a budget on or before September 15th of each year and determine the total amount necessary to be raised from the tax levy and management charges.

Subd. 5. Certification of levy to auditor. Requires that the district certify its tax levy to the county auditor, and sets the maximum levy amount at the lesser of 0.048% of taxable market value or $1,000,000.

Subd. 6. Levy. Requires the county auditor to add the amount of the district’s levy to other tax levies.

Section 4. Soil and water management area. Authorizes a district to establish a soil and water management area for collecting revenues and paying the costs of programs and projects consistent with the district’s comprehensive plan. A notice and hearing requirement is also included.

Section 5. Special taxing districts; definition. Adds a soil and water conservation district to the list of special taxing districts.

Section 6. College of charges by soil and water conservation districts. Provides that charges by soil and water conservation districts for district operations and programs and projects may be billed and collected in a manner the district determines, including certification to the counties for collection by the county. The county must extend the charges with interest upon the property and must be enforced and collected in the same manner as all property taxes. The charges, if not paid, become delinquent and subject to the same penalties and same rate of interest as real property taxes.

 

 
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