Conservation in Illinois is taking a hit after the 2025 fiscal year budget cut the budget for soil and water conservation districts across the state. Shawnee Sheehan, resource conservationist with the Warren County Soil and Water Conservation District says the $53.2 billion budget passed in Illinois included a 48 percent, or $4.5 million, budget cut to soil and water conservation districts in Illinois.
“So pretty much what that means is we live in one fiscal year where we have the funds that we were granted, and then the next fiscal year we got to figure out how to do it with half,” says Sheehan. “So across the state, I’m hoping that districts can stand tall and have some reserve funds from sales and other ventures we do with our partners. But some districts might not have a ton of manpower and we might be losing some employees due to this. Pretty much the best thing that we can do as a district and as a community is come together and show up to those sales, buy things, just give us any any work that you can.”
Sheehan adds that the Warren County Conservation District does have additional income that comes in through lease payments and sales.
