Local governments have started to see their slice of the Williamson Act funding pie. But even the biggest checks this year are just a sliver.
Last summer's budget revision resulted in a steep reduction of funding for the Williamson Act, which provides a property tax break to agricultural landowners who agree not to develop the property for a certain period of time. Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger cut the funding from roughly $28 million to just $1,000 with his line-item veto authority.
That $1,000 is now being doled out between 44 counties and three cities, with some receiving checks for as little as one cent.
California State Association of Counties, which opposed the cuts, offered its two cents on the checks on the organization's blog. Click here for the list.
PHOTO CREDIT: Dave Goicoechea places a feed supplement for his cattle on Aug. 24, 2009, at his ranch near Loyalton in the Sierra Valley. When a Southern California developer made him an offer to purchase his land, he declined. He succeeded in keeping it farm land under the Williamson Act. Hector Amezcua / hamezcua@sacbee.com
An earlier version of this post misstated the name of California State Association of Counties.
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