FY2023 Adopted Operating and Capital Budget

FY2023 Adopted Budget Fund Budgets

Agricultural Preservation

Agricultural Preservation The Agricultural Land Preservation office administers a variety of local, state, and federal land preservation programs focused on protecting agricultural lands. Current programs are Conservation Reserve Enhancement Program, Critical Farms, Installment Purchase, Maryland Agricultural Preservation Foundation, and Rural Legacy. The main funding sources for the agricultural preservation programs are derived from dedicated County recordation tax, State grants, a portion of the State Agricultural Transfer Tax, and contributions from the County s general fund. Through legislation, the County has dedicated 25.0% of recordation tax revenues toward agricultural land preservation in the county.

Budget Highlights The following budget adjustments are reflected in FY23:

Effective October 1, 2020, the recordation tax was increased from $6/$500 of consideration to $7/$500 of consideration. The $1 increase is dedicated to agriculture preservation (of which $500,000 is dedicated to related programs). This will effectively increase the percentage dedicated from 12.5% to 25.0%. The purchase of a vehicle and related operating expenses were added to monitor/inspect land in preservation. All personnel budgets include the second year of a multi year phase in to adjust the salaries of certain positions to reflect current market rates as well as adjustments to salary scales. Changes in salaries and benefits based on contracts, individual benefit elections, tax laws, etc., are also included.

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