Conservation director presents FY2026 budget; requests vehicle, project funding and highlights campground revenue

Chad (Conservation director) presented the Chickasaw County Conservation Department’s FY2026 budget to the Board of Supervisors on Jan. 7, describing revenue projections, line-item changes, capital needs and staffing recommendations.

Chad told the board the department’s proposed bottom line totaled roughly $527,870 (staff figure based on the worksheets presented). He said camping revenue and seasonal fees remain the largest sources of operating income and that donations/grant revenues are uncertain and therefore sensitive to budgeting; staff are pursuing grants (including community foundation and hotel/motel funds) to support a planned interactive learning center at the nature center, which Chad described as an approximately $45,000 project.

Staffing and wages: Chad said the board had approved a 4% increase for several conservation staff positions and that he and one other staff member (Matt) were adjusted to 3% after the board’s prior meeting. He noted the FY2026 salary computation uses a 2,088-hour basis and that longevity and market comparisons put department salaries below some county averages; Chad presented comparative data for nearby counties and statewide averages to support pay-line recommendations.

Capital and equipment: Chad outlined several capital needs and project priorities: replacing an aging mower (oldest mower 2012), consideration of a vehicle purchase (identified as a one-time purchase the department would prefer to fund from available fund balance rather than increase recurring levy), and plans to invest in tree planting and timber-stand improvements (Chad said the department plans to plant approximately 4,000 seedlings in upcoming clear-cut/planting parcels). He said the board-approved plan included a $7,500 increase for mower replacement within the proposed budget.

Restricted funds and projects: Chad reviewed restricted accounts (REAP funds and other donated/trust accounts). He said REAP returns approximately $10,000 per year to the conservation fund and that the conservation-restricted account held funds earmarked for land acquisition, a learning center ($45,000 target project), and improvements at Twin Ponds (driveway/parking improvements and trails). Chad asked that, if the county’s year-end fund balance allows, the board consider allowing a vehicle purchase from county fund balance rather than placing the full vehicle cost into the department’s annual budget.

Campground/park investments: Chad reported the department continues to expand campground amenities and discussed adding concrete pads to several sites at Airport Lake (estimated rough quote of $21,000–$22,000 to pave 20 sites quoted in discussion). He told supervisors that improved pads and services helped drive higher camping demand in recent years.

No formal board action on the conservation budget or capital requests occurred at the Jan. 7 meeting; Chad asked supervisors to consider the proposals and directed staff to refine numbers for the board’s upcoming budget sessions.