Poochigian on agriculture
Fresno County is the number one agricultural county in the United States. The Williamson Act has been a very important tool in preserving prime ag land and providing some tax relief that serves not only the interest of the farmers and ranchers, but the public as well.
Again, we know that hard choices must be made to deal with budget crises in Sacramento and some cuts will surely be made. However, it is cynical to attack a program whose direct cost is relatively nominal in the scheme of the entire state budget and the elimination of which can result in harm with implications for proper land use planning, air quality, urban sprawl, and a host of other issues.
For political reasons, the Williamson Act subventions are threatened by elimination or reduction in virtually every budget cycle. Sacramento politicians find it a convenient tool
to hold over the heads of our legislators to make them more compliant. I will strongly advocate for preservation of ag land and open spaces – and the Williamson Act is an important tool in that effort.