HomeMy WebLinkAbout11-121Resolution
A RESOLUTION OF THE BUTTE COUNTY BOARD OF 5UPERVISORS
IMPLEMENTING AN AMENDED WILLIAMSON ACT PROGRAM FOR 2012
UNDER AB 1265
WHEREAS, the State passed the California hand Conservation
(Williamsan) Act in 1965 to promote the general welfare and protect the public
interest in agricultural land; and
WHEREAS, the Williamson Act enables local governments to enter into
enforceable contracts with private landowners far the purpose of restricting
specific parcels of land to agricultural ar open space use; and
WHEREAS, in return, landowners receive property tax assessments which
are substantially lower because they are based upon agricultural and open space
use; and
WHEREAS, under the Open Space Subvention Act, the State has
provided subvention payments to local governments to offset the property tax
revenues foregone under the Williamson Act; and
WHEREAS, until 2008, Butte County received adequate annual
subvention payments to offset the foregone property revenues; and
WHEREAS, during the last three years State subvention payments have
been substantially less than needed to offset the foregone property tax revenues;
and
WHEREAS, AB 1265 allows local jurisdictions to amend their Williamson
Act program in any year in which subvention payments during the previous fiscal
year were less than one-half of the foregone property tax revenues; and
WHEREAS, amendment of the County's Williamsan Act program under
AB 1265 requires a reduction in the term of affected Williamson Act contracts
from ten years to nine years, for the duration of the period during which AB 1265
is implemented; and
WHEREAS, the decrease in affected contract terms under AB 1265 would
restore to the County a substantial portion of the property taxes foregone under
the Williamson Act because property taxes would be increased commensurate
with the reduction in the term of the contracts; and
WHEREAS, implementation of an amended Williamson Act program
under AB 1265 shall be suspended for any subsequent year in which subvention
payments for the previous fiscal year exceed one-half of the foregone general
fund property tax revenue.
NOW THEREFORE, BE lT RESOLVED that the Butte County Board of
Supervisors:
1. Finds that State payments for fiscal year 2011-2012 under the Open
Space Subvention Act are less than one-half of Butte County's actual
foregone general fund property tax revenue;
2. Implements the provisions of AB 1265 effective .lanuary 1, 2012;
3. Adopts amended Bufe County Adminisfrafive Procedures and Uniform
Rules for Implemenfing fhe California Land Conservafian (Williamson) Acf
in order to implement AB 1265; and
4. Establishes the deadline to apt out of the amended Williamson Act
contracts by submitting a notice of non-renewal as February 1, 2012.
DULY PASSED AND ADOPTED this 25~h Day of October 2011, by the following vote:
AYES: Supervisors Connelly, Wahl, Yamaguchi and Chair Lambert
NOES: Supervisor Kirk
ABSENT: None
ABSTAIN: None
Steve Lambe hair
Board of Su rvisors
ATTEST:
Paul H~n, C of Administrative ff er and
Clerk~bf tt~e 4~rd,