Executive/Council Action Form (ECAF)
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Ordinance 21-099, relating to Conservation Futures; amending SCC 4.14.040
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DEPARTMENT: Conservation & Natural Resources
ORIGINATOR: Sharon Swan
EXECUTIVE RECOMMENDATION: Approve-Lacey Harper 12/1/2021
PURPOSE: Modify Snohomish County Code to make the percentage of the Conservation Futures tax levy that can be used for maintenance of Conservation Futures funded properties consistent with that percentage allowed by State Law
BACKGROUND: In 1988, by enacting Chapter 4.14 SCC, the Snohomish County Council established a property tax for acquiring interests or rights in real property for the preservation of open space land, farm and agricultural land, and timber land as authorized by RCW 84.34.230, and created the Conservation Futures Fund for depositing tax revenues. In 2005 the State of Washington amended RCW 84.34.230 and RCW 84.34.240 to allow for collected Conservation Futures funding to be utilized for maintaining and operating property acquired with the funds, up to a maximum of 15% of the total amount collected (Engrossed Substitute House Bill 1631). Snohomish County updated SCC 4.14.040 in 2010 to add text to subsection (1) clarifying that a portion of the fund could be used for maintaining and operating any property acquired with the fund and also added subsection (2) which allowed for up to 15% of the collected tax to be used for maintenance and operation. In 2017 the State of Washington again amended RCW 84.35.240 to increase the amount of the Conservation Futures Fund which may be used for maintenance and operation to 25% if the county has acquired rights and interests for four hundred or more acres under the program and collected Conservation Futures funding for twenty or more years (Substitute House Bill 1820). Snohomish County has met both of these thresholds and the proposed code change will bring Snohomish County Code into alignment with state law and will allow additional expendit...
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