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Board forwards 16 agricultural easement applications to state after public hearing
Summary
Staff presented the recommended priority rankings for FY2027 agricultural preservation easement applications; commissioners approved forwarding the top 16 to the Maryland Agricultural Land Preservation Foundation for offers, with staff noting a 60/40 state‑local match mechanism.
The Washington County Board of County Commissioners opened a public hearing on June 30 to review local rankings for agricultural preservation easement applications under the Maryland Agricultural Land Preservation Program (MALPF).
Chris Bogs, Rural Preservation Administrator, described the county’s ranking formula that assigns points for soil quality, proximity to preserved lands, economic viability and parcel aggregation. After public comment (no speakers on the sign‑up list), the board voted to approve the advisory board’s priority list and forward the top 16 applications to the Maryland Agricultural Land Preservation Foundation for consideration in the FY2027 easement acquisition cycle.
Bogs noted the state uses a 60/40 match mechanism in which for every $40 the county contributes, the state matches $60; he said Washington County typically uses transfer‑tax funds for its match but may consider other sources if fiscally responsible. Staff estimated, given state funding patterns, that only two to four of the forwarded easements may be funded in the next cycle absent additional state allocation.
Next steps: staff will submit the county’s ranked list to the state and maintain confidentiality of applicant financial data until the end of the acquisition cycle as required by state law.
