Minutes 04-08-2025-Work Session - Laserfiche WebLink

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34 Mike Ortosky said there are 60 days where the new owner can apply to keep that present use. Chair Bedford said she has seen that in practice where the state and county collect it at closing. Commissioner McKee said he used to have a farm that was sold. He said the new owners farmed some of it and sold some of it off. He said that by reducing acreage, the farm was no longer allowed to go back to being a farm. He said the three year back taxes were over $6,000 and they pay taxes at full rate on the farm. Commissioner Greene reminded everyone that the county put a transfer tax on the ballot in 2008 and it was defeated. She asked about the preservation trust fund because she wondered if it would be a viable source of funding. She said items that require funding would not be possible in the economic climate. She said that it is great that the plan has momentum. She said it would be good to try a pilot program to reduce the present use value to 1 acre. She said for creating transition plans for farmers, it would be great for local law firms to volunteer some hours to help. She noted that many farmers said in the plan that changing climate was a concern. She said that the most common plan for farms is to transition the land to family members for continued farming. She said there is a clear interest from farmers in conservation easements. She said there was a lot of interest in solar farming. Mike Ortosky said that Breeze Farm is seeking funding for solar farming. Commissioner Greene said it was also interesting to read the comments about on-farm housing. She said that the comments made her feel hopeful about the future of farming. Commissioner Carter thanked the Agricultural Preservation Board for the plan. She asked if CIP funding for Lands Legacy and conservation easements was included in the plan. She asked if those funds are in the debt service model. Chair Bedford said she would also like to see Lands Legacy versus the conservation easements. David Stancil, DEAPR Director, said the Lands Legacy Fund and conservation easement fund are set up differently. He said that on the advice of bond counsel; it was set up as two separate funds. He said the conservation easement funding is alternative financing funds that they have been able to stretch by getting grants. He said that actually began because it was not fully fee simple purchase, it had to be two different projects. Commissioner Carter clarified that the not fee simple purchase applies to the Land Legacy component. David Stancil said that it is the other way around. He said that conservation easements are less than fee simple and you are basically acquiring development rights, and the owner retains ownership of the lands. He said that you can use Lands Legacy Funds for conservation easement purchases but not the other way around. Chair Bedford said that the county funds $500,000 a year in the CIP for Lands Legacy. said that funds from the 2001 bond should have already been spent so they will need to see a report. David Stancil said those funds have already been converted into alternative financing. Travis Myren said those funds would have been converted well before his time so he will need to do some research, but they have seven years if it was a general obligation bond. He said all of this has been authorized and would be part of the debt analysis. He said the CIP recommends taking a break from authorizing additional money until those balances can be spent down. Chair Bedford said at the CIP work session she would like more information on how they are able to use those funds. She said she would like to know if those funds can be used for farm preservation. David Stancil said the Lands Legacy criteria will be helpful and they will get that to them.