Bipartisan group urges continued farmland protection payments

SACRAMENTO -- A bipartisan group of 30 lawmakers urged their colleagues Friday to reject Gov. Gray Davis' plan to stop compensating counties that give property tax breaks to growers who agree to keep their land in agriculture for at least 10 years.

The 18 Democrats and 12 Republicans said the Williamson Act program has "offered an innovative approach to agriculture and open space land protection for nearly 40 years."

"Without the act, California would have suffered significantly more leapfrog development, lost much of our scenic open space and wildlife habitat and paved over the richest soil in the world," the lawmakers said in a letter to Assembly Speaker Herb Wesson, D-Culver City.

If the state discontinues the payments "there is no doubt that counties will be forced to discontinue their participation in the act," they added. "This would come at a time when California is facing tremendous population pressure and would further jeopardize the economic viability of thousands of farming and ranching enterprises."

The Williamson Act, pass in 1965, provides for lower property taxes for owners who sign contracts to keep their land as agricultural land, wildlife habitat, recreation sites or open space for at least 10 years.

The property is assessed based on its current usage instead of its potential value if developed for commercial or residential use.

As part of his plan to eliminate a state budget deficit that could reach $34.6 billion, Davis has proposed eliminating the $39 million the state pays counties to make up for revenue they lose because of the contracts.