AgdaPkt 2004-05-10 - Laserfiche WebLink

Browse Search

" , - , \o.A-3 A mNTION CITIES WITH WILLIAMSON ACT LAND: AS 1820 MAY AFFECT YOU... " S8 1820 (Machado) cancels the existing city good policy and should not have been terminated in protest mechanism for contracts that were 1991. It makes little sense for the county to be enter- entered into within one mile of a city'sboundary, ing into contracts to tie up a~lriculturallands on a city's prior to January 1, 1991. In addition, this mea- border, when that action impedes the timely develop- sure provides the Department of Conservation ment of that land for housing alld other needs of the with authority to determine that the current fair state's growing population. This is especially truE! for market valuations are inaccurate, as specified. cities, because they only annex land with the approval The League is on record in opposition to S8 of LAFCO in areas that are designated for future city 1820. development. Prior to 1991, the Williamson Act contained a S8 1820 was approved by the Senate Local provision that authorized a city to file a protest Government CDmmittBe and the measure is now with LAFCO when the county entered into a pending in the Senate Appropriations Committee. Williamson Act contract within a mile of the city's Interested cities should go on record in opposition to boundary. Williamson Act contracts are vol un- the bill by contacting their IBgislators and the Chair of tary agreements between a local government the Senate Appropriations Committee. Visit and a landowner. In exchange for agreeing to www cacities ora/advocacvcenter to find your legislator. continue to use the land for agricultural pur- poses for ten years, the property owner pays a LOCAl LEGISLATIVE ACTION DAYS ARE reduced amount of property tax. The local government is reimbursed fDr a portion of its JUST TWO WEEKS AWAY! property tax losses by the state. Contracts are annually self-renewing for ten-year periods, but This year, more than eVBr, you can have a real may be "non-renewed" by either party. When a influence in shaping the ongoing budget negotia- -' contract is non-renewed, the contract winds tions with the Administration and Legislature. down over a ten-year period. Property owners LOCAL Legislative Action Days gives city may only "cancel" their contract if significant officials an opportunity to: findings can be made, and the property owner pays various penalties. . Leam about the ongoing and active discus- If a city filed a valid protest priDrto 1991, the sions with the Administration and the Legislature to affected Williamson Act contract may be can- prevent the proposed $1.3 billion raid of additional celled immediately by the city upon annexation, local govemment property taxes. without waiting for the ten-year wind down period . Carry our message and call-to-action to to occur or requiring the payment of penalties. legislative offices to help shape an equitable Agricultural land preservation groups and the budget package that ensures long-term protection Department of Conservation typically raise of local revenues. objections when cities exercise their "protest" . ParticipatB in media events and other cancellation authority. The League is concerned activities to show 10cailBaders are united in our with this legislation because it terminates the efforts to protect local services. protest authority after January 1, 2006. . Hear from key statewide electBd officials As far as the League is concerned, the LOCAL Legislative Action Days will take place Legislature should not terminate the legislative WednBsday & Thursday, May 12-13, 2004 at the options that were in place for cities that filed ShBraton Grand Hotel in Sacramento. Regis- valid protests prior to 1991. Those cities took ter online today at www.calocal.orQ or if you advantage of the laws that were in effect at the have any questions, plBase contact MBghan MeisBI time, and the state should keep its side of the at 916-443-0872 or at bargain. Furthermore, the protest process was mmeisel@'bickerassDCiates.com -' Visit the League's Official Web Site--www.cacities.org PRIORITY FOCUSIPAGE 3