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County staff flags tobacco-restoration receipts for farmland preservation; commissioners await state action in Annapolis
Summary
Staff added cigarette (tobacco) restitution funds to the ag-preservation program line in the draft CIP and recommended a budget amendment when the state releases formal allocations; commissioners expressed concern that the state legislature could change the restitution pot and asked to wait on amendments until clarifying legislation is resolved.
County staff incorporated anticipated cigarette restitution (tobacco settlement) receipts into the ag-preservation funding entries in the revised CIP and noted a prior balance of $1,251,320 and an annual estimated carry of $3,472 (note: transcript said "3472" as an estimate) that could serve as local match for farmland preservation programs.
Finance staff cautioned the board that cigarette/tobacco restitution monies are subject to state legislative action in Annapolis and that the county’s share could change if the state reallocates or sweeps those funds. “This is a very, very tough topic in Annapolis right now,” staff said, noting the allocation math and bills in the legislature that could alter the local share.
Because the restitution fund is uncertain, several commissioners recommended not fully relying on that revenue in the FY 2016 plan and to leave the ag-preservation line as-is until state decisions become clearer. Staff agreed to prepare a clearer explanation in a forthcoming budget amendment showing annual program expectations and what the county’s exposure would be if the state pot were reduced or eliminated.
Commissioners discussed the concept of treating the ag-preservation program as an on-going annual program rather than a single “balance to complete” figure and asked staff to provide a clearer multi-year presentation showing estimated annual allocations, local transfer-tax contributions and how cigarette-restoration receipts might reduce local transfer-tax use if the state funds are available.
Staff said it would return with a budget amendment that explains the assumptions and the extent to which restitution funds would be used as local match.
