Williamson Act back on the block in Brown's proposal

Part of Gov. Jerry Brown's $12 billion in state budget cuts is proposed to come from the elimination of state funding for the Williamson Act, which provides property tax breaks for farmers and ranchers.

[Duck Duck]

Could this be an end to all of those duck hunts and Super Duty pick up trucks? Don't forget the Sutter Buttes property either. Way to go Governor Brown!

[ROlson]

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[4thGenChico]

Duck Duck wrote:

Could this be an end to all of those duck hunts and Super Duty pick up trucks? Don't forget the Sutter Buttes property either. Way to go Governor Brown!

Yeah, it could be the end of agriculture in California and the beginning of a massive city that stretches from Redding to the Grapevine in one big, solid, ugly mass. That will be the ultimate nadir for the Golden State.

[Cecil Martin]

Oh no! No new snowmobile, diesel truck, motorhome, spoiled brat kids getting anything they want purchases. Go Brown

[Old Timer]

Welfare for farmers is ending??? Way to go Brown...

[16th and Park]

Old Timer has it right. The Williamson Act is no more than ag welfare.

[why]

Why must we suffer foolish politics and comments? Personally, I like to eat and farmers GROW the food people! Be prepared to pay more for our food. California has been killing business for a long time, sending jobs and business to Texas and other states. Now Brown is working on getting rid of agriculture, which is HUGE in our state folks. I still don't see where the good ol Guv is taking away the money that goes to illegal aliens.

[4thGenChico]

16th and Park wrote:

Old Timer has it right. The Williamson Act is no more than ag welfare.

You and "Old Timer" are pretty clueless in that regard. The Williamson Act is a tax reduction on ag land in return for agreeing to keep it ag land in perpetuity, with an option to "buy out" of the contract every 10 years. If it wasn't for that act, farmers couldn't afford to farm, wind up selling their land and the best ag land in the world would become houses and strip malls. I guess city slickers who've never tasted fresh food and enjoy living like rats wouldn't mind that so much, but some of us more sane people who enjoy quiet, wide open spaces, the wildlife that comes with it and farm-fresh food would.

[4thGenChico]

16th and Park wrote:

Old Timer has it right. The Williamson Act is no more than ag welfare.

REAL "ag welfare", which BTW I don't agree with at all, is when the government pays you NOT to grow something or subsidizes a certain crop. Paying people not to be productive has got to be one of the most bass-ackwards, foolish things that was ever invented.

[itstinks]

Good job jerry Making cuts is what needed to happen but giving it back to illegals for education..? California dream act..? I dont think giving anything to anyone who is illegal is the answer!! How about help them become legal first then let them earn their dreams like the rest of us. NO MORE TAX DOLLARS WAISTED!!!!

[Real Deal]

Why should taxpayers have to subdize land owners (not paying taxes) while they sit on land for years 'unproductive' while land value increase,so then they make a profit off just letting it sit,having taxpayers paying taxes for them !Sounds like welfare to me !

[Mike]

why wrote:

Why must we suffer foolish politics and comments? Personally, I like to eat and farmers GROW the food people! Be prepared to pay more for our food. California has been killing business for a long time, sending jobs and business to Texas and other states. Now Brown is working on getting rid of agriculture, which is HUGE in our state folks. I still don't see where the good ol Guv is taking away the money that goes to illegal aliens.

However you frame it, it's welfare for the rich. If you want to own thousands of acres of land, why not pay the property tax on it like everyone else? If you can't make a living farming it, then sell it or develop it into something else. I am tired of providing welfare for the rich while they look down their noses at those in the grocery store using a food stamp card.

[welfare mart]

4thGenChico wrote:

<quoted text>
REAL "ag welfare", which BTW I don't agree with at all, is when the government pays you NOT to grow something or subsidizes a certain crop. Paying people not to be productive has got to be one of the most bass-ackwards, foolish things that was ever invented.

Some of my relatives collect no grow subsides and it's usually unproductive land anyway . With 70% of U.S. exports based in agriculture , all your doing is subsidising exports not providing a price break for those whom absorb the cost of the subsidy .

[welfare mart]

I see Americans hurting , it's high time for a Williamson act job subsidy that lifts the standard of living for Americans instead of those in foreign lands .

[Old Timer]

Cut the Government back to the 70's that includes cutting the administrative jobs too.

Gov. Brown may be doing just that. Way to go.