Conservation Funds

The Newmarket Conservation Commission has two main sources of funds to carry out its mission: the Conservation Fund and an annual appropriation from the General Fund.

The Conservation Fund

The Conservation Fund is a specific fund authorized by RSA 36-A; it is non-lapsing and can accumulate from year to year. This enables the Conservation Commission to plan for projects such as the acquisition of land, building of trails and associated infrastructure, educational programs, and other stewardship-related projects. For most expenditures, the Conservation Commission spends the money by a majority vote of the Commission at its public meetings. Prior to using these funds for the purchase of any interest in real property, the Conservation Commission must hold a public hearing and the Town Council must approve the acquisition.

The Conservation Fund can hold public and private funds from different sources. The primary source of funding since its approval in 1989 has been 50% of the Land Use Change Tax (LUCT). This is money paid to the municipality when land that was enrolled in the Current Use assessment program is removed from current use to be developed.

General Fund Allocation

The Conservation Commission receives an annual appropriation from the General Fund that is included in the annual town budget, which is approved at our March Town Meeting. These funds are used for operating expenses such as part-time salary for the recording secretary, annual dues to the NH Association of Conservation Commissions, contracts for easement monitoring, and miscellaneous supplies. The annual appropriation is $4000 to $4,500.

At the 2009 Newmarket Town Meeting, voters passed a warrant article that “…adopts the provisions of RSA 36-A: 4-a, I (b) allowing the Conservation Commission to expend funds for contributions to qualified organizations (such as land trusts) for the purchase of property interests, or facilitating transactions related to thereto, where the property interest is to be held by the qualified organization and the town will retain no interest in the property.” At the same town meeting, voters did not approve provisions related to RSA 36-A: 4-a, I (a), which would have authorized the Conservation Commission to expend funds to purchase interest in land outside the boundaries of Newmarket.