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Clark County advisory commission to hear fuller proposal on public benefit rating system
Summary
After public comment proposing a public benefit rating system for open-space/agricultural taxation, the Clark County Agricultural Advisory Commission voted to invite the commenter back for a fuller presentation to explore whether PBRS could help preserve farmland and reduce costs for aging farmers.
The Clark County Agricultural Advisory Commission voted May 27 to invite public commenter Steve Thberg back to present a fuller proposal on establishing a public benefit rating system (PBRS) for open-space and agricultural taxation.
Thberg told commissioners a PBRS, already adopted in some Washington counties, would incentivize conservation by providing tax relief to property owners who meet public-benefit criteria. "It incentivizes the beneficial use of lands by providing tax relief to property owners who meet any of the below goals," Thberg said, describing PBRS goals that include preserving native ecosystems, watersheds and scenic values. He told the commission the change would be "tax-neutral for the county" and could let aging farmers avoid "tens of thousands to hundreds of thousands of dollars" in costs to remove land from current-use agricultural taxation if they stop farming.
Why it matters: Commissioners said the proposal could affect how vulnerable farmland is kept in agricultural production by reducing the financial pressure on owners to sell to developers. The commission did not adopt policy at the meeting and emphasized that PBRS would require coordination with county assessors and possibly state programs.
Mo McKenna, co-chair, put the matter to a vote after commissioners indicated interest; the commission approved a motion to invite Thberg back for a presentation and discussion. The vote passed by voice after a second.
Next steps: Commissioners said they will coordinate scheduling and asked Thberg to return with materials and specific PBRS scoring suggestions. The commission recommended the presenter include details about likely fiscal impacts, implementation steps and any required changes to county procedures. The meeting adjourned later that evening.
Attribution: Quotes and claims in this article come from public comment and the vote recorded in the May 27 meeting transcript of the Clark County Agricultural Advisory Commission.
