Amador County – Elected leaders at both state and local levels are bracing themselves for the potential impacts of major reductions in Williamson Act funding from the state. Governor Schwarzenegger has all but eliminated state aid as part of a wide-ranging cost-cutting plan meant to help solve the state budget crisis. Officially known as the California Land Conservation Act of 1965, the Williamson Act enables local governments to provide extremely low tax assessments to owners of farm and open-space land in exchange for a ten-year agreement that the land remain undeveloped. Specifically, the Act is intended to promote voluntary land conservation. The statute applies to nearly 16.6 million acres in 53 counties- close to half of all California’s private farmland. During recent budget discussions, Amador County Supervisor Louis Boitano made it a point to say that Williamson Act funding cuts could change what the county has to spend to perpetuate local land conservation. State Senator Dave Cox, Chair of the Senate Local Government Committee, will lead a Legislative Oversight Hearing today on the Williamson Act titled “The Williamson Act: Past, Present, Future?” Also serving on the committee are Senators Kehoe, Aanestad, Price, and Wiggins. A briefing for the meeting says that since 1972, “the State General Fund has paid about $875 million as direct subventions to the participating county governments.” Exercising his constitutional authority, the Governor all but eliminated direct subventions by reducing the annual appropriation from $27.8 million to $1,000 earlier this year. The briefing says “landowners, conservation groups, and county officials now question the state government’s commitment to conserving farmland and open space.” The committee expects to hear testimony from county officials, landowners and conservation organizations. They will address the future of the program, including questions on statewide benefits, land base, tax relief, county programs and subventions. The Cox-led Senate Local Government Committee is meeting today from 9:30 am to 11 am in the State Capitol, Room 112. Members of the public are welcome to attend. Story by Alex Lane This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
Wednesday, 03 March 2010 01:14
Officials Discuss Impacts of Williamson Act Funding Cuts
Written by Tom-
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Amador County – Elected leaders at both state and local levels are bracing themselves for the potential impacts of major reductions in Williamson Act funding from the state. Governor Schwarzenegger has all but eliminated state aid as part of a wide-ranging cost-cutting plan meant to help solve the state budget crisis. Officially known as the California Land Conservation Act of 1965, the Williamson Act enables local governments to provide extremely low tax assessments to owners of farm and open-space land in exchange for a ten-year agreement that the land remain undeveloped. Specifically, the Act is intended to promote voluntary land conservation. The statute applies to nearly 16.6 million acres in 53 counties- close to half of all California’s private farmland. During recent budget discussions, Amador County Supervisor Louis Boitano made it a point to say that Williamson Act funding cuts could change what the county has to spend to perpetuate local land conservation. State Senator Dave Cox, Chair of the Senate Local Government Committee, will lead a Legislative Oversight Hearing today on the Williamson Act titled “The Williamson Act: Past, Present, Future?” Also serving on the committee are Senators Kehoe, Aanestad, Price, and Wiggins. A briefing for the meeting says that since 1972, “the State General Fund has paid about $875 million as direct subventions to the participating county governments.” Exercising his constitutional authority, the Governor all but eliminated direct subventions by reducing the annual appropriation from $27.8 million to $1,000 earlier this year. The briefing says “landowners, conservation groups, and county officials now question the state government’s commitment to conserving farmland and open space.” The committee expects to hear testimony from county officials, landowners and conservation organizations. They will address the future of the program, including questions on statewide benefits, land base, tax relief, county programs and subventions. The Cox-led Senate Local Government Committee is meeting today from 9:30 am to 11 am in the State Capitol, Room 112. Members of the public are welcome to attend. Story by Alex Lane This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
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