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Orange County Legislature approves $4 million for Open Space fund
Summary
The Ways and Means Committee approved a $4 million supplemental appropriation for the county Open Space Fund, bringing available funds to about $7.5 million and positioning the county to compete for state farmland-protection grants.
The Orange County Ways and Means Committee voted to add $4,000,000 to the county's Open Space Fund as Capital Project No. 128 in the 2026 Capital Plan. Commissioner of Planning and Conservation Alan J. Sorensen said the infusion will raise the fund to a little over $7.5 million and support land acquisitions, conservation easements and projects to protect water supplies and municipal parkland.
"This year the state has $67 million set aside for the Farmland Protection Implementation Grant," Sorensen said, noting the county has a strong opportunity to leverage state funds for farmland protection and park acquisitions. He said applications will be solicited with an April 22 deadline and that awards commonly pair county contributions (often 25%) with state grants (commonly 75%) for purchase-of-development-rights projects. The committee approved the appropriation unanimously.
