Wolk bill to reduce "Ag Preservation Penalty" wins bipartisan approval

Bill would reward counties with strong agricultural preservation policies

SACRAMENTO–The Assembly Local Government Committee voted 6-0 yesterday to pass legislation by Assemblywoman Lois Wolk (D-Davis) to enable Yolo and Stanislaus Counties to continue to preserve land for agricultural use and still provide other critically needed services to their citizens.

“Assembly Bill 2577 would help reduce what I call the ag preservation penalty for these two counties, which are now losing significant property tax revenue as a result of their efforts to preserve agricultural land,” said Assemblywoman Wolk. “Yolo and Stanislaus Counties are hit from both sides. They are among the lowest in the state in terms of their share of the Educational Revenue Augmentation Fund and the highest in the state in Williamson Act protection. This bill would alleviate some of these counties’ burden of ERAF expenses and allow them to receive their fair share of the State’s General Fund for education.”

Currently, both counties have over 60 percent of their land under Williamson Act contract to protect against urban sprawl in farmland, and receive less than 11 percent of their share of ERAF property tax revenue for their public schools.

“I believe the Williamson Act is a good thing, and that counties ought to be encouraged to participate in order to protect agricultural land and support those farmers who are facing significant pressure to develop,” said Wolk. “Unfortunately, there is a fiscal disincentive to do so as these counties suffer a severe fiscal penalty that strains the other services – law enforcement, indigent health, mental health, road repairs – that rural counties must provide.”

Under AB 2577, a qualified county would be required to have both an ERAF share below 11 percent, and over 60 percent of its land in the Williamson Act. Currently, only Yolo and Stanislaus counties would be affected.

The bill, which will next be heard in the Assembly Appropriations Committee, is supported by the California State Association of Counties and both the Yolo and Stanislaus County Boards of Supervisors.