Dear Editor:
In regard to the San Benito County Growth Control Initiative, the president of the county farm bureau stated in the Free Lance on April 9 that “by limiting the future use of our land, this measure reduces the present value of our land. We will be unable to borrow the money we need to maintain our farms and ranches.”
Yes, the growth control initiative does limit our prime agricultural productive land to agricultural uses with low density housing. Seventy-six percent of the county agricultural land is in the Williamson Act (Land Conservational Act – LCA), which is a land contract a land owner voluntarily signs to put agricultural productive land in a long-term (10-year renewable) contract and in exchange he pays reduced land taxes.
According to the planning department’s Growth Control Review, for the 76 percent of county unincorporated land in LCA “the values of these lands will not change, as they do not contain real or speculative values with regard to development.”
Page 7 of the review states that agricultural land in LCA would continue with the stabilization of property tax values at about 5 percent annual increase.
Further, agricultural production loans are based on the agricultural value of the land, farm equipment or crops.
The agricultural economy is cyclical and lows are often brought on by forces outside local control.
In tough times, one must economize, perhaps rent out the land, find a niche market, or even sell a parcel.
Our agricultural land is a major county resource as well as a state and national treasure.
Without good land, it is hard to be a farmer.
Janet Brians
Hollister
