Kane, DuPage water, soil district faces funding crisis

A government agency tasked with preserving soil and water in Kane and DuPage counties is in danger of closing because of funding delays in the governor's budget office, officials warned Tuesday.

So far this fiscal year, the Kane-DuPage County Soil & Water Conservation District has received only $14,129 of about $80,000 allocated in the state budget. Officials estimate the district can survive another three months without additional money, but it may be forced to slash hours and staff to avoid shuttering completely.

"We're scrimping, we're saving and we're doing everything we possibly can with what we have," said Tracey Waite, manager of the district's St. Charles office. "We're trying to make legislators aware of how vital those funds are to us and our programs."

According to Gov. Rod Blagojevich's office of management and budget, soil and water districts across the state are in similar predicaments while lawmakers grapple with a $750 million revenue shortfall. It also is holding several grants tied to soil and water conservation.

Kelley Quinn, communications director for the office, said in an e-mail response to questions that the budget is "based on 'overly optimistic' revenue projections … so there isn't enough revenue coming in to cover all the spending approved by lawmakers." She noted that Blagojevich vetoed more than $400 million from the budget already and took other measures to slow spending.

"We'll be able to pay the state's obligations if the General Assembly approves more revenue," Quinn said. "We have suggested they approve fund transfers and close corporate tax loopholes to cover the spending in their (fiscal '08) budget."

Like most soil and water groups, the Kane-DuPage district participates in various programs involving agencies such as the USDA, Farm Service Agency and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. It also offers community programs and activities related to wetlands, wildlife and other ecological topics.

But perhaps the most influential function of the district as it relates to everyday taxpayers is the assistance it provides to municipal zoning boards and other panels considering development proposals. Last year, the local district completed zoning reports involving more than 2,400 acres, officials said.

Statewide, similar districts have been promised more than $7.6 million in funding this year. Waite noted the agencies in northern Illinois alone contribute about $34.1 million annually to Illinois' economy.

"We feel we have a certain integrity we have to uphold in the natural resources area and we would like to be able to continue to do so," she said.