HomeMy WebLinkAboutRESOLUTIONS - 01012003 - 2003-199 THE BOARD OF SUPERVISORS OF CONTRA COSTA COUNTY, CALIFORNIA
PASSED by the following vote of the Board of Supervisors on this first day of April 2003
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RESOLUTION NO. 2003/199
Subject: Support Full Funding of the Open Space Subvention Program (Williamson Act)
WHEREAS,the California Land Conservation Act of 1965,popularly known as the Williamson Act,
is a voluntary program which provides lower property taxes to agricultural landowners in exchange
for their contractual commitments with participating cities or counties to keep their land in
agricultural or open space uses for at least 10 years; and
WHEREAS, the Williamson Act currently protects over 16.3 million acres of agricultural land,
much of it having scenic open space and wildlife value, and over half of the state's prime farmland
in 52 counties is protected by the Act; and
WHEREAS, in 1998, the Act was amended to provide for the establishment of the Farmland
Security Zones, commonly referred to as the Super Williamson Act, which allows landowners to
receive an additional tax reduction if they keep the property in the conservation program for at
least 20 years; and
WHEREAS,the 1971 Open Space Subvention Act provides a formula for allocating payments to
local govemments based on acreage enrolled in the program, to help replace the foregone
property tax revenue to participating local government; and
WHEREAS, this financial support from the state has provided a tangible incentive for local
governments to stay in the program and initiate more contracts; and
WHEREAS, in 1993, the Legislature and then-Govemor Wilson augmented the open space
subventions as a means to help rural counties deal with the creation of the Educational Revenue
Augmentation Fund; and
WHEREAS, the Governor's proposal for the 2003-04 State Budget includes permanent
elimination of the Williamson Act subvention to Counties (approximately $38.6 million
statewide);and
WHEREAS, eliminating the open space subvention payments will remove the incentive for
counties to participate in the program, potentially leading some counties to non-renew Williamson
Act contracts due to the lack of financial resources to support the continuation of property tax
incentives for landowners; and
WHEREAS, without the financial incentive for farmers to participate in this important land
conservation program, other more lucrative land uses may be considered, thus threatening the
overall viability of California's agricultural economy; and
WHEREAS, the integrity of the Williamson Act as a planning tool used to support general plan
and zoning objectives, prevent leapfrog development and to promote orderly growth will be
threatened; and
NOW THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that Contra Costa County joins the California State
Association of Counties(CSAC) and other California counties in supporting continued full funding
of the Open Space Act Subventions Program and urges the Governor and Members of the State
Legislature to restore subvention funding to the 2003-04 State Budget, thus preventing the
potential decimation of the state's premier farmland protection program.
RESOLUTION 2003/199
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t:ereby certify that t } 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 1, 2003
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JOHN SWEETEN, Clark of the Board
$uperviso $and Caun dministrator
By Deputy
RE50Lt cN 20031199
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