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Deschutes Soil & Water district seeks voter support for countywide tax base measure
Summary
Deschutes SWCD managers briefed Redmond council on conservation work and the district’s approved November ballot measure that would levy roughly $14 per household annually to raise about $2 million a year for conservation projects across Deschutes County.
Representatives of the Deschutes Soil and Water Conservation District described recent programs and asked the council to note a tax base measure approved by their district board for the November ballot.
Erin Kilcullen, district manager, explained the district’s work on forest health, irrigation improvements, watershed restoration, soil‑health projects and urban agriculture. She said the SWCD has been grant funded and in the past four years placed roughly $772,000 of projects on the ground across 486 acres.
Jeff Relay, co‑chair (speaker 21), told council the board approved a countywide tax measure that would generate about $2 million per year, roughly $14 annually per household, to provide stable funding for proactive conservation, wildfire risk reduction and staffing. Relay framed the measure as a way to hire and retain staff to address long‑term resource concerns.
Councilors asked about the district boundaries and program accountability; presenters said the measure covers all of Deschutes County, the district uses state NRCS standards for projects, and many grants include follow‑up and monitoring requirements.
No formal council action was required; staff left informational materials for council and attendees.
