HomeMy WebLinkAboutLetter from Senator Nielsen regarding Williamson Act FundingCAPITOL OFFICE
STATE CAPITOL
SACRAMENTO, CA 95814
(916) 651 -4004
CHICO DISTRICT OFFICE
2653 FOREST AVE., STE. 1 10
CHICO, CA 95928
(530) 879 -7424
CRESCENT CITY DISTRICT OFFICE
1080 MASON MALL, STE. 4
CRESCENT CITY, CA 95531
(707) 464 -1255
ROSEVILLE DISTRICT OFFICE
2200A DOUGLAS BLVD., STE. 100
ROSEVILLE, CA 95765
(916) 772 -0571
YUBA CITY DISTRICT OFFICE
409 CENTER ST., STE. C
YUBA CITY, CA 95993
(530) 751 -8657
March 11, 2014
The Honorable Doug Teeter, Chairman
Butte County Board of Supervisors
25 County Center Drive, Suite 200
Oroville, CA 95965
Dear Supervisor Teeter and Members of the Board:
COMMITTEES
BUDGET & FISCAL REVIEW
HEALTH
INSURANCE
VETERANS AFFAIRS
I received your recent letter conveying the Board's concerns regarding budget funding for the
Williamson Act in the 2014 -15 budget year. I appreciate hearing from you and having the
opportunity to respond.
As you are aware, for more than 40 years, the California Land Conservation Act of 1965 --
commonly referred to as the Williamson Act -- was the state's premier agricultural land
protection program. Over half of the state's 30 million acres of farm and ranch land were
protected under the Act. This subvention allowed counties to help preserve California's valuable
agricultural resources in the face of development pressure. While state subventions had been
proposed for elimination over the years, they had never actually been cut — until enactment of the
2008 -09 Budget, which ordered the State Controller to reduce the counties' open space
subventions by 10 percent. Upon adoption of the 2009 -10 Budget, the Legislature further
reduced state subventions to $27.8 million; however, the Governor used his blue line -item veto
pen to slash all but a $1,000 placeholder from the reimbursement pot for the 2009 -10 budget
year.
I am fully aware of the far - reaching benefits of the Act and successfully carried AB 2530 in
2010, a temporary program that allows counties to enter into shorter contracts (9 or 18 years),
reduces tax valuations for landowners, and serves the public interest by keeping family farms
and ranches operating. This year, I am authorizing Senate Bill 1353 which would repeal the 5-
year sunset on that program. At this point, I am unaware of any opposition to the bill.
Should the Budget and Fiscal Review Committee consider reinstating Williamson Act funding,
you can be assured of my support. In the meantime, SB 1353 is a vital stop -gap measure that
should serve to ease pressure on the counties and landowners.
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If you would like additional information regarding S 1353, I urge you to contact Shawn Lewis
my Senate Fellow who is working this legislation on my behalf.
Again, thank you for taking the time to write. Please do not hesitate to contact m y office an y
time my staff or I may be of service.
Sincerely,
JIM NIELSEN
Senator, Fourth District
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