Commissioners approve $6,000 interlocal amendment moving administrative funds to Okanogan Conservation District for VSP work

The Okanogan County Board of Commissioners voted on March 25 to authorize the chair to sign an amendment to the interlocal agreement with the Okanogan Conservation District shifting $6,000 from county administrative costs into the conservation district’s control to support the county’s Voluntary Stewardship Program (VSP).

Why it matters: the amendment formalizes a previously discussed reallocation so the conservation district — which now vouchers directly with the State Conservation Commission — can spend the funds on staff time, meeting attendance and minute‑taking before the fiscal year ends June 30. The change was presented to the board as a narrow, one‑time budget adjustment to avoid forfeiture of the administrative funds.

What the board approved

Taylor George, identified in the meeting as the Voluntary Stewardship Program coordinator and agriculture planner, described the amendment and said the planning department had not yet used the $6,000 that had been left in the county budget. George said the district needs permission to spend the money before June 30 and that transferring the funds to the conservation district would streamline invoicing and timing with the State Conservation Commission.

A motion to authorize the chair to sign the amendment was moved and seconded and the board voted in favor; no roll‑call tally was recorded in the meeting minutes. The action allows the conservation district to reimburse staff time and cover meeting support tied to the VSP for the remainder of the current fiscal year.

Next steps

The chair will sign the interlocal amendment and the conservation district will invoice the county and state as appropriate. County staff and the district will provide any follow‑up reporting on how the funds were used in regular budget or program reports.