KCCD Local Funding
Notice of Public Hearings to Consider Renewal of a System of Rates and Charges for the Kittitas County Conservation District (KCCD)
The Kittitas County Conservation District will conduct two public hearings to provide information about and solicit comments on a proposed system of rates and charges consistent with RCW 89.08.405. This system of rates and charges is proposed for a period of 10 years to renew the current system of rates & charges which was initiated in 2016 and expires this year.
Public Hearings will be held as follows:
July 27, 2026 6:00 PM at Hal Holmes Community Center, 209 N. Ruby Street, Ellensburg WA 98926
July 30, 2026 6:00 PM at Upper Kittitas County Senior Center, 719 E Third Street, Cle Elum WA 98922.
Anyone with an interest in this matter is urged to attend said hearing where all testimony will be taken. Written comments may be received at 2211 W Dolarway Road, Suite 4, Ellensburg, WA 98926 or electronically to anna-lael@kccd.net through August 19, 2026.
For more information, contact Anna Lael at 509-925-3352 ext. 7 or at 2211 W Dolarway Road Suite 4, Ellensburg WA 98926
Local Funding
The Kittitas County Conservation District is an independent public agency established in 1942 under Chapter 89.08 of the Revised Code of Washington (RCW) to assist landowners and operators to protect and enhance natural resources. The District serves all unincorporated areas of Kittitas County, as well as the City of Cle Elum. The incorporated cities of Kittitas, Ellensburg, South Cle Elum, and Roslyn are not included in the District’s service area at this time. An incorporated area may opt in or out of the District by resolution of their City Council at any time.
Beginning in 2007, the District collected a Special Assessment as allowed by Chapter 89.08.400 RCW. Special assessments are authorized to be imposed for conservation districts to fund activities and programs declared to be of special benefit to lands to conserve natural resources, including soil and water, and may be used as the basis upon which special assessments are imposed. The RCW authorizes the county legislative authority of the county in which the conservation district is located to accept the proposed assessment for a period not to exceed ten years in duration. The Kittitas Board of County Commissioners did so in 2006 for a period of 10 years beginning in 2007. The last year of the Special Assessment was 2016.
In 2016, the KCCD sought to renew the local funding collected through an assessment by replacing it with a system of rates and charges. In doing so, a rates analysis was necessary and is available here. The property owners within the KCCD service area may have seen a slight difference in their annual bill starting in 2017 due to the results of this rate analysis. However, the funds will are still collected through the property tax statements sent by the County, and there remains a statutory maximum of $5 per parcel and $0.10 per acre.
In 2026, the KCCD Board of Supervisors is pursuing a renewal of the system of rates and charges through another 10 year period beginning in 2027. The Rates Analysis Report was updated (available here) with current parcel and budgetary information. In addition, the 2025 Washington State Legislature changed the cap for the per parcel rate from $5 to $25 with a provision to increase it every three years based on rising costs.
The Appeal Process
The District Board of Supervisors passed Resolution 2016-003 establishing a process for landowner appeals of rates and charges as applicable to a parcel or parcels. Any person subject to rates may appeal a rate by applying in writing to the District. Learn more here.
Frequently Asked Questions
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What are "Rates and Charges"?
“Rates and charges” refer to county-approved fees that local residents pay to cover public services in the community. For example, county residents pay water and sewer management fees that are based on a county-approved system of rates and charges to cover the cost of those services. In the same way, this rate and charge fee covers conservation-related services in the county.
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Why does KCCD need public funding? Why not other sources?
We actively seek out state, federal, local, and foundational grants, but grants are volatile revenue sources that fluctuate year-to-year and usually have very specific spending purposes. To better serve local needs, rates and charges allow for control of funds and how they are invested into the community.
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What will this money be used for?
Rates and Charges funding benefits everyone whether they use our services or not. It allows us to achieve local goals like improving drought resiliency through on-farm water conservation, reducing wildfire risk by reducing removing fuels in the forested areas, restoring wildlife habitat, preserving agriculture, and providing community-driven solutions to natural resource management concerns.
Additionally, we leverage these local dollars with state, federal, and foundation funds to create even greater impact. For every $1 in Rates & Charges, KCCD currently leverages approximately $10 in grants/contracts.
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How are decisions about Rates and Charges made? By who?
Kittitas County Conservation District is overseen by a locally-elected board. This board will vote on a proposed rates and charges plan at a public hearing. The proposal then goes to the Kittitas Board of County Commissioners for a final decision.