Posted: | March 7, 2017 04:12 PM |
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From: | Representative Bryan Cutler |
To: | All House members |
Subject: | Agricultural Preservation Funds Use |
In the near future I plan to introduce legislation that would allow use of agricultural preservation funds to be used by private land trusts that are engaged in the preservation of farms, if the counties do not use all the funds allocated to them. The purpose of my legislation is to provide the opportunity for land trusts to have access to state dollars allocated to counties for preservation that were unused in that fiscal year. This proposal would simply enhance the preservation efforts already going on in our counties and better invest in one of our largest areas of importance in the Commonwealth, agriculture. It should be noted that this legislation does not call for an increase in funding available, just use of already allocated yet unused funds. Therefore, I do not foresee an increase in cost for the commonwealth. There are currently over 80 land trust organizations throughout the Commonwealth that could benefit from the passage of this legislation. I hope you would consider joining me in supporting private land trusts and the incredible work they do around the commonwealth and cosponsor this legislation. |