Clallam County commissioners agreed Monday to limit a proposed Conservation Futures property tax to only being used to preserve farmland. (Jesse Major/Peninsula Daily News)

Clallam County commissioners agreed Monday to limit a proposed Conservation Futures property tax to only being used to preserve farmland. (Jesse Major/Peninsula Daily News)

Clallam commissioners agree on limiting Conservation Futures tax to farmland

Officials expected to vote on proposal at meeting today

PORT ANGELES — Clallam County commissioners have agreed that the proposed Conservation Futures property tax should be limited to preservation of farmland and have eliminated language that would allow for preservation of open space and public access to water.

Commissioners Mark Ozias and Randy Johnson said during a work session Monday they were supportive of the move and Commissioner Bill Peach said that while he opposes the tax, he supports limiting the use of the funds. Commissioners are expected to vote on the tax during their 10 a.m. meeting today.

Ozias said that though he personally prefers the more broad language that allowed more uses of the fund, he heard “strong and consistent feedback” from many who only wanted the fund to be dedicated to preserving farmland.

ADVERTISEMENT
0 seconds of 0 secondsVolume 0%
Press shift question mark to access a list of keyboard shortcuts
00:00
00:00
00:00
 

“The reality is if a few years from now commissioners wish to amend the ordinance and amend that language because the situation on the ground has changed, that could happen any time,” Ozias said. “By adding this language to the ordinance it achieves a level of transparency of what we’re trying to accomplish and is what the public told us they would like us to accomplish with these dollars.”

Under state law, the Board of County Commissioners has the authority to pass — without a vote of the people — a property tax to create a fund that is used to purchase development rights to preserve farms, agricultural land, park land, open areas and public access to water.

The current draft of the ordinance would set a levy at $0.0275 per $1,000 of assessed valuation, which Johnson said would raise about $250,000 each year. That would be an additional $6.88 per year for a home valued at $250,000.

When a land owner receives a payment from the Conservation Futures program, that property owner still owns the land and is still required to pay property tax. The only restriction is that the land must continue to be a farm.

Officials said that tax could be used to secure matching dollars from other organizations that share the same mission.

Mary Ellen Winborn, director of the Department of Community Development, urged commissioners to keep the more broad language, even if the funds are primarily used for farmland.

“I believe in preserving farmland, but I don’t believe in … ignoring the rest of the opportunities as well,” Winborn said. “You never know what project could come in front of you.”

Both Ozias and Johnson expressed support for Winborn’s suggestion, but they have had many conversations with people who only supported the tax going toward farmland.

“I think we started out with the broader language … and gosh, how many emails have I had that say that’s not where we should go,” Johnson said.

Winborn also asked commissioners whether they had considered an advisory vote.

Peach emphasized that the board could hold an advisory vote at a later time. However, commissioners were told they must approve the tax this month in order for it to be implemented in 2020.

“I can tell you I don’t support increased taxes,” Peach said. “A lot of messages I have received … a very, very predominate theme is to stick with farms first.

“Although I do not support the tax, I do support the language change,” Peach said.

________

Reporter Jesse Major can be reached at 360-452-2345, ext. 56250, or at jmajor@peninsuladailynews.com.

More in News

Ballots to be mailed Wednesday for special election

Four school districts put forward measures

Connor Cunningham of Port Townsend, an employee of the Port of Port Townsend, hangs a sign for new business owner Lori Hanemann of Port Townsend on Friday at her shop in what was a former mortgage office at Point Hudson Marina. (Steve Mullensky/for Peninsula Daily News)
Shop sign

Connor Cunningham of Port Townsend, an employee of the Port of Port… Continue reading

Teenager receives heart transplant after 12-hour surgery

Additional surgery was expected to close chest

f
Readers give $108K in donations to Home Fund

Donations can be made for community grants this spring

Red Parsons, left, Kitty City assistant manager who will help run the Bark House, and Paul Stehr-Green, Olympic Peninsula Humane Society board president and acting executive director, stand near dog kennels discussing the changes they are making to the Bark House to ensure dogs are in a comfortable, sanitary environment when the facility reopens in February. (Emma Maple/Peninsula Daily News)
Humane Society officials plan to reopen Bark House

Facility, closed since last July, could be open by Valentine’s Day

Clallam EDC awarded $4.2M grant

Federal funding to support forest industry

Firm contacts 24 agencies for potential OMC partner

Hospital on timeline for decision in May

Port Townsend nets $5.3 million in transportation grants

Public works considers matching funds options

Holly Hildreth of Port Townsend, center, orders a latte for the last time at the Guardhouse, a cafe at Fort Worden State Park, on Wednesday. At noon the popular cafe was to close permanently, leaving an empty space for food, drinks and restroom facilities in the park. (Steve Mullensky/for Peninsula Daily News)
Fort Worden Hospitality closes business operations

Organization faced with ‘legal limbo’ because lease was rejected

Clallam fire districts providing automatic support

Mutual aid helps address personnel holes

You're browsing in private mode.
Please sign in or subscribe to continue reading articles in this mode.

Peninsula Daily News relies on subscription revenue to provide local content for our readers.

Subscribe

Already a subscriber? Please sign in