Orange County NC Website
• An improving regional economy — an expected upturn following the Great Recession <br />(2008 -12) should provide more conservation opportunities, but it may also result in higher <br />land values. <br />• No more NC Conservation Tax Credit — The NC General Assembly eliminated one of <br />the important incentives for landowners to donate conservation easements or enter into <br />bargain sales. The credit program will expire December 31, 2013. <br />• Less funding from the State of NC — Although the state budget includes funding for <br />land conservation, the amount of grant funds available to local governments from the <br />State trust funds has been reduced significantly. <br />• County parks master plan update — An updated parks and recreation master plan for <br />Orange County will be completed in early 2014. The plan will help guide future Lands <br />Legacy program acquisitions related to parks, open space and trails. <br />• County funding for conservation easements — The BOCC approved an annual <br />allocation of $125,000 in the Capital Investment Plan (CIP) for conservation easement <br />purchases. These funds are expected to leverage outside funds from various sources. <br />Most of the priority focus areas in the 2014 -17 Action Plan are multi -year projects repeated from <br />previous action plans. A few potential new projects are offered for the Board's consideration. <br />Details of each are provided on pages 3 -4 of the action plan. <br />• Bingham Township Park <br />• Upper Eno Preserve/ Mountains -to -Sea <br />segment) <br />• Farmland Easements <br />• Jordan Lake Headwaters Preserve <br />• Local Historic Landmarks <br />Trail (Hillsborough to Seven -Mile Creek <br />FINANCIAL IMPACT: Most of the funds available for the upcoming three fiscal years (2014 -15, <br />2015 -16, and 2016 -17) are existing funds from prior appropriations of the Board (2001- 2006). <br />These include appropriations from the Lands Legacy Fund (voter- approved 2001 Parks and <br />Open Space bonds converted to alternative financing in 2008 -09), the Lands Legacy <br />Opportunities Fund (pay -as- you -go funds primarily from 2000 -2006 sales tax revenues), and <br />Payment -in -Lieu Funds (funds generated by new subdivision activity for parks, recreation and <br />open space acquisition and construction). In addition, the Board allocated $125,000 annually <br />for the Conservation Easement Fund as part of the CIP adopted in June 2013. <br />Where identified, the proposed funding source is listed in the attached Action Plan. For many <br />projects, DEAPR seeks grant funds from a variety of State and Federal sources. Thus far the <br />County has received $3.8 million for conserving lands through Lands Legacy. <br />Final funding decisions are made by the Board on a project -by- project basis, as potential <br />purchases are presented for approval. Not all potential projects in the draft Action Plan will be <br />pursued. In each case, separate project budgets and capital project ordinances with specific <br />funding sources and amounts are considered at the time of project approval. <br />RECOMMENDATION(S): The Interim Manager recommends the Board receive the draft Lands <br />Legacy Program Action Plan and provide direction, comment and feedback. DEAPR staff will <br />make refinements to the plan based on Board comments and bring the Action Plan back for <br />Board adoption at a subsequent meeting. <br />