Board adopts policy clarifying discretion for CUVA applications below minimum acreage

The Jones County board adopted a formal policy clarifying how it will exercise discretion on CUVA applications that fall below the statutory minimum acreage. Staff described the policy as a way to put existing discretion "in writing" and said it does not limit statutory authority but sets expectations that the burden of proof falls on the taxpayer.

A staff member explained the reason for the policy: "The reason I felt like we needed a policy on something like this is we've had several taxpayers that have come in and they have less than the required 10. And I just I felt like we needed to put it in writing that it's really at the board's discretion on whether or not you approve it... The burden of proof is on the taxpayer." The chair also clarified that ordinary backyard uses (a deer path or a birdhouse) do not meet the policy's standards for wildlife acreage: "just because you have a deer walk through your backyard in Jones County, that doesn't make it a wildlife area."

Committee member (S2) moved to approve the policy on exercising discretion for CUVA applications and the motion was approved by voice vote. The transcript records the board's approval; no roll-call tallies were included.