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Kent County Agriculture Preservation Board meets with equalization director to improve assessor coordination for preserved farmland
Summary
At its May 6 meeting the Kent County Agriculture Preservation Board discussed with County Equalization Director Megan VanHoose how assessor valuation practices affect preserved farmland and agreed on steps to share parcel data with local assessors to support long-term preservation goals.
The Kent County Agriculture Preservation Board met on May 6, 2026, and heard from County Equalization Director Megan VanHoose about how property valuation practices can affect agricultural and preserved parcels.
Staff member Haley Stichman framed the conversation as part of the board’s strategic plan to strengthen local capacity for farmland preservation by improving coordination with township and municipal assessors. Stichman said the board’s goal is to help local assessors better understand how valuation decisions affect preserved farmland and the county’s long-term preservation objectives.
VanHoose outlined the assessing process and clarified how different land uses are evaluated under current practice, responding to board questions about implications for preserved and agricultural parcels. The discussion focused on ensuring assessors have access to parcel-level information that distinguishes preserved land from other uses so valuations reflect the property’s preserved status.
As a next step, Stichman will attend a May 26 meeting with local assessors and prepare an annual report that summarizes preserved parcels by township for use by assessors. The board described the report and improved information-sharing as tools to build stronger relationships with assessors and reduce valuation errors that could undermine preservation incentives.
The Board did not take formal action during the discussion; staff will return with the assessor meeting outcomes and the proposed annual report at a future meeting.
