HomeMy WebLinkAboutMINUTES - 04272010 - C.28RECOMMENDATION(S):
APPROVE and AUTHORIZE a letter from the Chair, Board of Supervisors, to Governor
Schwarzenegger seeking restoration of state subvention funding for the California Land
Conservation Act, also known as the Williamson Act.
FISCAL IMPACT:
Governor Schwarzenegger’s proposed FY 2010-11 State Budget continues the suspension of
state subvention funding to local governments for the Williamson Act program, and as
participant in the program, Contra Costa County stands to lose state funding used to support
the County’s Williamson Act program.
BACKGROUND:
The California State Association of Counties (CSAC) and the Regional Council of Rural
Counties (RCRC), in conjunction with several statewide agricultural and environmental
organizations, have initiated a campaign to save the subvention funding for the Williamson
Act program.
Since its adoption 45 years ago, the California Land Conservation Act, commonly known as
APPROVE OTHER
RECOMMENDATION OF CNTY ADMINISTRATOR RECOMMENDATION OF BOARD COMMITTEE
Action of Board On: 04/27/2010 APPROVED AS RECOMMENDED OTHER
Clerks Notes:
VOTE OF SUPERVISORS
AYE:John Gioia, District I Supervisor
Gayle B. Uilkema, District II
Supervisor
Mary N. Piepho, District III
Supervisor
Susan A. Bonilla, District IV
Supervisor
Federal D. Glover, District V
Supervisor
Contact: Patrick Roche (925)
335-1242
I hereby certify that this is a true and correct copy of an action taken and entered on the minutes of the Board
of Supervisors on the date shown.
ATTESTED: April 27, 2010
David J. Twa, County Administrator and Clerk of the Board of Supervisors
By: June McHuen, Deputy
cc:
C.28
To:Board of Supervisors
From:Catherine Kutsuris, Conservation & Development Director
Date:April 27, 2010
Contra
Costa
County
Subject:Restoration of Williamson Act Subvention Funding
the Williamson Act, has grown into the
BACKGROUND: (CONT'D)
state’s most important farm and ranch land protection program. The program protects
16.5 million acres statewide by offering property tax relief to farmers and ranchers to
keep their land in commercial agricultural production for 10 or 20 years (as of 2009,
45,855 acres of unincorporated land area in Contra Costa County were under Williamson
Act contracts). In 1971 the State Legislature enacted a reimbursement formula for
allocating payments to local governments based on acreage enrolled in Williamson Act
contracts. More commonly referred to as subvention funding, this financial support from
the state has provided a tangible incentive for local governments to stay in the
Williamson Act program by partially replacing property tax revenues lost on enrolled
land.
Governor Schwarzenegger suspended subvention payments for the Williamson Act
programs to counties and cities in the FY 2009-10 State Budget, and is threatening to do
so again in the FY 2010-11 State Budget. On September 22, 2009, consistent with the
Board of Supervisors legislative platform, the Board acting in response to CSAC
campaign approved and authorized the Chair to send a letter to the Governor seeking
restoration of the subvention funding in the FY 2010-11 State Budget.
CSAC has advised that the May Revise of the FY 2010-11 State Budget offers the last
best hope for restoring Williamson Act subvention funding under the Schwarzenegger
administration. The objective for CSAC and RCRC, along with other advocates, is to
restore subvention funding in the May Revision of the State Budget. To that end they are
meeting with the Governor’s office and key members of his cabinet, and they are once
again asking counties participating in the Williamson Act program to submit letters
directly to the Governor in support of the restoration of subvention funding for the
Williamson Act program.
CONSEQUENCE OF NEGATIVE ACTION:
In order to meet certain deadlines for the May Revise of the State Budget, CSAC has
advised that all counties participating in the Williamson Act program should submit
letters by April 28, 2010 to the Governor’s office urging restoration of the state
subvention funding.
CHILDREN'S IMPACT STATEMENT:
None.
ATTACHMENTS
Letter to Gov. Schwarzenegger re: Restore Williamson Act Subvention Funding