Land Access and Opportunity Board warns FY27 cuts would halt resilience grants and seed funding, urges impact study of land‑use rules
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Summary
LAOB co‑directors told the Appropriations Committee their FY27 ask is $3.2 million; with a governor/House recommendation of $1.68 million they say the agency faces a roughly $1.5 million shortfall and a 44% operating cut that would pause resilience grants, seed capital and technical assistance programs.
The Land Access and Opportunity Board told the Appropriations Committee that a reduced FY27 operating base would interrupt ongoing programs that support small‑scale developers, community resilience and emergency shelter improvements.
Co‑directors Lorena MacAsquiero and Jane Hamilton said the LAOB requested $3.2 million for FY27 but that the governor's recommendation — mirrored in House appropriations — was a $1.68 million base. They said the difference leaves the board short roughly $1.5 million and would amount to an approximate 44% decrease in operating capacity if only the base is approved.
"The LAOB's funding must continue," MacAsquiero said in testimony, arguing the office amplifies community capacity and leverages other state investments.
The presenters listed programs at risk if program dollars are removed: $400,000 for community resilience grants (35 letters of intent from 14 counties were noted), beginning‑developer seed capital, a Homes for All development fund, technical assistance, the land security working group and a community‑of‑practice model for shelters. They described emergency winter grants (eight awarded this season) and said several grantees were already applying for rolling funding opportunities.
Committee members asked about the LAOB's role in rulemaking and whether the board supports recent land‑use statutes and rules (referred to in testimony as Act 181/182). LAOB representatives said they have served on working groups and expressed concern about the pace of rule rollout and potential economic impacts on rural communities; they recommended an economic impact assessment before broader rollout of tiering and other rule provisions.
What happens next: LAOB leaders asked the committee to consider restoring program dollars and to require or sponsor an impact study evaluating the proposed land‑use rule changes; the committee did not vote on appropriations at the session.
