In those counties of Idaho wherein all or a substantial part of the county has been created and is operating as a soil conservation district or districts under the provisions of chapter 27, title 22, Idaho Code, or any amendment thereto, the board of county commissioners may, from time to time, at their discretion and upon request of the supervisors of such soil conservation districts provide in their budget a sufficient amount of money from the county general fund for allocation to the districts to be used by the districts for any purposes authorized by law, or in lieu of such allocation the county commissioners at their discretion may assign or hire an employee or employees of the county to assist the supervisors in the performance of the work of their office. The duties of such employee or employees shall be under the direct supervision of the supervisors of each soil conservation district.