The Whidbey Island Conservation District needs a special tax assessment next year to stabilize its operations and continue its programs, officials say.

“The district is funded on soft money, which is variable and questionable at times,” said Duke LeBaron of Langley, a member of the district’s board of directors.

“An assessment would give us a solid footing so we know what we have to work with,” he said.

The district, a subdivision of county government, is proposing an assessment for 2010 of $5 per parcel plus 5 cents per acre for assessed lands in the county.

An assessment would net about $243,000, close to the annual total budget for Whidbey Island and Camano Island programs, officials said.

Tax revenues from Camano would be used for programs offered by the Snohomish Conservation District.

Created in 1967, WICD is one of 47 conservation districts in the state. It provides free or low-cost aid in conservation planning and technical assistance, low-impact development, sustainable farms and forests, and conservation outreach and education.

“Our experts go out and work with landowners one-on-one to help them comply with county ordinances,” said Karen Bishop, WICD manager in Coupeville.

Bishop said 13 of the state’s conservation districts operate with tax assessments, and that WIDC has been moving toward obtaining an assessment for more than two years.

“We’re on a roller coaster, and it makes it harder to deliver important programs,” she said.

The district currently is funded entirely by grants and interlocal agreements, which have been dwindling in this economy at the same time competition for the money has increased, LeBaron said.

LeBaron said when it comes to large grant programs, the district is caught in a Catch 22: Many of those programs require as much as

25 percent in matching funds.

“We have no way to get matching funds,” he said.

The district has scheduled public meetings in July. Bishop said officials hope to present the proposal to Island County commissioners in August.

County commissioners must approve the assessment, which would take effect in January.

LeBaron said if the assessment isn’t approved, some staffing may be affected.

“We’d continue to struggle on the way we have, but not as much conservation could happen,” he said.

“When you stop to think about it, we’re talking $5 a year,” he added. “How many lattes will that buy?”

A meeting on the proposal is from 7 to 8:30 p.m. Wednesday, July 8 at the Unitarian church, 20103 Highway 525, Freeland.