Please see the following link for more information: https://www.co.thurston.wa.us/planning/natural-res/natural-conservation-futures.htm

Thurston County is now accepting applications for the 2019 Conservation Futures funding round. Applications are due by 5 PM PST on Thursday, February 28, 2019.

Conservation Futures is a land preservation program that protects, preserves, maintains, improves, restores, and limits the future use of threatened areas of open space, timberlands, wetlands, habitat areas, culturally significant sites, and agricultural farmlands within Thurston County. Conservation Futures funds, acquired through a property tax levy, are used to purchase the land or the rights to future development of the land.

The Washington State Legislature first granted the authority for a Conservation Futures tax levy in 1971 when RCW 84.34 was enacted and later amended in 1988. RCW 84.34.200 declares that the acquisition of interests or rights in real property for the preservation of open spaces and areas constitutes a public purpose for which public funds may properly be expended or advanced. RCW 84.34.230 declares the county may levy an amount not to exceed 6.25-cents per $1,000 of assessed value of all taxable property within the county for the Conservation Futures Program.

The Legislature found that Conservation Futures are a useful tool for counties to preserve land of public interest for future generations and are encouraged to use some conservation futures as one tool for salmon preservation purposes. Any county, city, town, nonprofit historic preservation corporation (RCW64.04.130) or nonprofit nature conservancy corporation or association (RCW 84.34.250) may qualify for Conservation Futures funds. The legislature also declared that up to fifteen percent of the Conservation Futures fund may be used for the maintenance and operation of any property acquired with conservation futures funds.

In 1989, Thurston County became one of the first counties in the state to implement the tax levy and has been collecting it ever since. Even though Thurston County property taxpayers could pay up to 6.25-cents per $1,000 assessed value on each parcel, in 2018 they paid 4.2 cents per $1,000 assessed value. The levy is subject to the statutory limit of 1% per year. The funding, identified in the budget as Conservation Futures, is budgeted annually by the Thurston County Board of County Commissioners.

Applications may be submitted via e-mail to Andrew Deffobis at andrew.deffobis@co.thurston.wa.us, or mailed to:
Andrew Deffobis, Associate Planner
Thurston County Community Planning & Economic Development Department
2000 Lakeridge Drive SW
Olympia, WA 98502

Applications may also be dropped off in person at the Thurston County Courthouse:
Thurston County Commissioners Office
Building 1, Room 269
2000 Lakeridge Drive SW
Olympia, WA 98502

If you have any question contact Andrew Deffobis (Associate Planner), Phone 360-754-3355 ext. 5467, or e-mail andrew.deffobis@co.thurston.wa.us.