Board seeks clarity on farmland preservation share as county staff describe recent state-match certifications

Several board members asked for clarity on how the county's open-space funding is being apportioned between open-space projects and farmland preservation, saying residents and applicants want assurance both program tracks are advancing.

Dave (staff member) explained the certification process the county uses to secure state matching for farmland preservation and gave recent certification figures. "In 2023, we certified a million dollars. And last year, 2024, [we certified] $250,000," Dave said. He described the state match in general terms: "When we do that, we get a match from the state ... when we put in a million dollars, we end up getting $1,200,000 from the state with that." The board discussed using the county certification schedule to align farmland preservation and open-space rounds so both tracks move forward.

Board members emphasized they do not want the programs to be perceived as competing. One member said the county has a backlog of farms in the farmland-preservation queue and that farmland easements take time for appraisals and paperwork. Dave and other staff said money already certified to farmland is not holding up applications; the county continues to process applications in both tracks and will present certification recommendations to the commissioners at their upcoming meeting.

No new funding allocations were adopted at the meeting. Board members requested that staff and the Farm Board continue to coordinate so municipal officials and applicants have clear expectations about timelines and availability of funds.