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Northumberland County hears detailed land‑use valuation briefing; residents urge keeping protections for family farms
Summary
At a March 24 special meeting, county staff presented 2026 land‑use valuation figures and program statistics; dozens of residents urged the Board of Supervisors to preserve land‑use protections for family farms, while urging periodic review of rates and better transparency.
Todd Thomas, the county presenter, told the Northumberland County Board of Supervisors on March 24 that the county’s current use‑value rates for tax purposes have remained at $800 per acre for agricultural/open space and $500 per acre for forestry since the program’s adoption. He reviewed the State Land Evaluation Advisory Council (SEALAC) 2026 suggested ranges and showed neighboring jurisdictions’ suggested values, noting that some counties’ recommended figures are substantially higher than Northumberland’s current rates.
Thomas provided program statistics and answers to a set of 15 questions from the board, saying that approximately 57,337 acres were enrolled in the county program through tax year 2025, that 674 property owners were granted agricultural land‑use values across 936 parcels and about 22,660 acres of cropland,…
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