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Siskiyou County sees state budget proposal as threat to farmland

 Pioneer Press
Fort Jones, California
June 27, 2007
Page W-4
 
YREKA - Governor Schwarzenegger's proposal to eliminate reimbursements to California counties for participation in the Williamson Act could have significant lasting impacts on the ongoing efforts to preserve farmland and open space in Siskiyou County.

In his May budget proposal, the governor recommended eliminating $39 million that the state provides to local governments participating in the highly successful conservation program. For Siskiyou County this would mean a loss of approximately $770,000 in revenues in the next fiscal year.

"The Williamson Act has proven to be one of the most significant conservation programs in state history," stated Barry Shioshita, Siskiyou County Administrator. "To eliminate a component of the program, which would make it fiscally impossible for many counties to continue participation, is not sound public policy."

The Act calls for a voluntary contract between a property owner and local government. In return for agreeing not to develop the land for a minimum of 10 years, the property owner receives a tax break. The state then reimburses participating local governments with a portion of the property tax revnue they would receive if the land was not part of the program.

Since its inception in the mid-19860s, the Williamson Act has been highly successful. More than 16.5 million acres of farm and ranch land, including nearly six million acres of  California's prime farmland, are enrolled in this program. In Siskiyou County, there are 409,761 acres currently enrolled in the Williamson Act, 90,622 acres of this is prime farmland.
 
"Siskiyou County is proud to be part of the Williamson Act program. Farmland preservation and open space conservation, though, should be a statewide priority, not just a local priority. We need to ensure that the Williamson Act is not altered. If the state removes its fiscal responsibility to the program, it will be turning its back on 40 years of environmental and agricultural protection," stated Mike Mallory, Siskiyou County Assessor.

While the $39 million in subventions is a critical funding component for local government, it only amounts to a mere .036 of one percent of the proposed state budget.

"With flat property tax revenues, Siskiyou County is not in a position to backfill the revenues loss if the Williamson Act program is altered. This would necessitate cuts in other program areas, such as public safety, health or other general government services," CAO Shioshita noted. "These are programs that are vital to our residents; we do not want to be put into a position of 'either/or' by the state."
 
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