Agenda - 06-27-2002 - 8o - Laserfiche WebLink

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i. 1 ORANGE COUNTY BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS ACTION AGENDA ITEM ABSTRACT Meeting Date: June 27, 2002 Action Age.Moa Item No. . SUBJECT: Authorization to Submit Grant to USDA Farmland Protection Program DEPARTMENT: Environment and Resource PUBLIC HEARING: (YIN) No Conservation ATTACHMENT(S): INFORMATION CONTACT: FPP Guidelines and Summary Sheet David Stancil, 245-2598 TELEPHONE NUMBERS: Hillsborough 732-8181 Chapel Hill 968-4501 Durham 688-7331 Mebane 336-227-2031 PURPOSE: To authorize staff to submit grant applications to the USDA Farmland Protection Program, BACKGROUND: In May of this year, Congress adopted and the President signed the new Farm Bill. Contained as part of the Farm Bill were appropriations to the Farmland Protection Program, which channels funds to the states for assistance in the acquisition of conservation easements. The Farmland Protection Program (FPP) provides a 50% match for the acquisition of farmland conservation easements, based on appraised value of the easement. Because of the Federal government timetable requires obligation of funds by the end of the Federal fiscal year on September 30, a short window of opportunity exists—with applications due July 15. The County has been working with several farmers on potential easement acquisitions over the past several months, and may wish to apply for FPP funding to augment and leverage County funds for easement purchases. FINANCIAL IMPACT: Applications to the Farmland Protection Program require a 50% match toward the easement purchase, over the next three County fiscal years. Proposed grant applications totaling $1 million would require a like amount of County funds over three years (between FY 2002-03 and FY 2004-05). County matching funds would come from the existing and future appropriations to the Lands Legacy Fund and future appropriations for conservation easements from alternative financing, as proposed in the Manager's Recommended CIP.