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Page 4 March 2001 farmland preservation report, Oregon Measure 7 may see second attempt at ballot- continued from page 3 received; but they'll sign onto it eventually unless it's really bad or runs into a lot of opposition. Gov. [John] Kitzhaber probably would veto almost any bill that has much of Measure 7 in it, so the legisla- ture will bypass him -by referring the bill to the voters." Maryland program takes steps to speed up easement processing ANNAPOLIS, MD — Steps have been taken to reduce the amount of time it takes to reach settle- ment in the Maryland farmland preservation program, according to program director Paul. Scheidt, although it is not yet known how much time will be saved as the changes are imple- mented. Scheidt outlined the changes to a task force subcommittee studying ways to improve program procedures. Scheidt told the subcommittee the administrative changes, already underway by staff, will save the task force a lot of work and recommended the subcommittee "support what we've already done." The changes include ordering title searches at the time an offer is made, rather than after an offer is accepted; providing a vehicle to the appraisal staff of the Department of General Services; the use of composite appraisals rather than third appraisals when values are far apart; and, hiring an additional settlement attorney and a paralegal, positions approved. by the Board of Public Works Jan. 24. Turning over appraisal, survey and title responsibilities to counties has not been discussed, Scheidt said, in response to an inquiry from subcommittee chair Phyllis Kilby, a county com- continue to page 5 etcetera ... Bill would lift $10,000 per acre cap in Pennsylvania program Harrisburg, PA — Legislation before the Pennsylvania Senate Agriculture Committee would lift the $10,000 per acre cap on state dollars used by counties in purchasing farmland easements. The move comes in an amendment to HB 101 that would delete the pro- vision from existing law. HB 101 would allow coun- ties to purchase easements on entire farms that cross county lines. The amendment to lift the cap was introduced by Rep. Raymond Bunt Jr. of Montgomery County, where easement purchase prices consistently range higher than $10,000 per acre, reaching up to $18,000 per acre, according to state program director Ray Pickering. The bill containing the amendment has passed the House and is now in the Senate Agriculture Committee. At a recent conference in Montgomery County, Rep. Bunt stated that high land values and urbaniza- tion should not deter Montgomery County from pursuing farmland preservation. "I think we do have a right to preserve agricul- ture here in Montgomery County," Bunt said, adding that if farmers were going to be paid for their devel- opment rights, "we have a responsibility to pay that farmer what his rights are worth. I feel very strongly about that." Bunt tried unsuccessfully to introduce a cap -lift . bill at the end of last year's session. Points - based appraisals approved for federal program Washington, D.C. — Federal grant applicants may use points -based formulas in place of standard appraisals to derive easement value for preservation projects using Farmland Protection Program funds, Tome Heisler of the Maryland NRCS confirmed Feb. 16. Heisler and federal program administrator Denise Coleman said Feb. 7 they were optimistic