COM 0217.001 2022-2024 - Laserfiche WebLink

Home

i identical to the 10 year program with the exception of it not being recorded with the Bureau of Conveyances. The program would be established to allow for diversified agricultural activities as provided in the Dedicated Agricultural Program. The valuation for this program would*be the lower of 20%of market value or 3X the 10 year dedicated value. This program would be focused on start up operations or where there is uncertainty with respect to the long-term viability of a commercial agricultural program. F ' 3. Revise the Non-Dedicated Agricultural Program. The Non-Dedicated Agricultural Program would be revised to require a minimum lot size for agricultural uses as set by the Dedicated and Short Term Dedicated Programs. In addition, in order to qualify for this program, a Farm Plan would be required to ensure there is a viable agricultural activity being undertaken. Another recommendation is that the Non- Dedicated property agricultural value would be based on a percentage of the Fair Market Value of the property and not as multiple of the Dedicated Agricultural rate. The agricultural value for this program would have an assessed land value of 30%of market value. 4. Native Forest program. Further review of the Native Forest program is recommended with input from local native forest practitioners,United States Department of Agriculture Forest Service Division,University of Hawaii -Tropical Conservation Biology&Environmental Science and Tropical Ecosystem& Agroforestry Management staff. An updated value of the Native Forest program is suggested at '1i the current dedicated value per acre for pasture. . In addition to the recommendations above,the Real Property Agricultural Committee recommends to the County Council and Administration the following changes which are located in the Hawaii County Code,Finance Director's Rules and Regulations as well as Real Property Tax office procedures and guidelines: 5. Add a minimum size requirement for Non-Dedicated AG use parcels. This would match the current minimum size requirements in place for the Dedicated AG program. There are approximately 3,000 of the 8,400 parcels currently enrolled in a Non-Dedicated AG program that would not meet the minimum size requirements. The county receives approximately$580,000 in revenue annually from these parcels and could gain approximately$6.5M by implementing an absolute minimum size requirement. The current minimum size levels are .25 acres (intensive AG), 1 acre(orchard), 5 acres (feed crops), and 10 acres (pasture). Parcels that fall below the minimum size may still be eligible to receive the Non-Dedicated AG benefit if they can prove they are part of a larger AG operation that in total meets the minimum size requirements or they provide additional documentation(i.e.Farm plan and/or schedule F, G-49). 6. Reduce number of required signatures on AG applications. The current county code requires all owners on title sign the application to receive the AG benefit. The