Spokane County commission recommends five farm-and-ag conservation tax-deferrals

The Spokane County Planning Commission on Feb. 12 recommended five parcels for entry into the county's Farm and Agricultural Conservation Program, a move that would qualify the properties for up to a 50% land-only tax deferral if the Board of County Commissioners adopts the recommendation.

Planning staff presented five separate applications (FAC0125, FAC0225, FAC03, FAC425 and FAC0525) during a public hearing. Robert Brock of the county planning staff said each property met the program's eligibility and public-benefit scoring criteria and that scores ranged from 161 to 170 points, sufficient under the scoring matrix to recommend the maximum deferral. Brock described standard conditions for all approvals, including an annual report of activities to the assessor's office by Jan. 31 to demonstrate efforts to maintain or return the land to agricultural use.

The properties include a roughly 26.5-acre rural-conservation parcel west of Campbell, a 12.5-acre small-tract agricultural parcel near Deer Park, a 165-acre parcel southeast of Cheney that staff said previously was used for cattle grazing, a 10.3-acre small-tract agricultural parcel (where applicants reported recent livestock and beehives), and an 11.36-acre family farm. Brock said the applicants' plans range from five-year farm plans to keeping land in 'farm-ready' condition until a future owner can resume active farming.

Commissioners asked whether applicants must live in Spokane County; Brock said there is no residency requirement for the program. On questions about compliance, Brock said the assessor's office is responsible for monitoring participants and has authority to remove properties from the program and assess back taxes and penalties if program rules are not met.

Chair moved to approve all five applications in a single motion. The motion was offered by Pete Reiner and seconded by Lonnie Edwards; an online participant, Clyde, verbally indicated support. The commission approved the motion by voice vote; the transcript records verbal 'ayes' but does not show a formal roll-call tally attributed to individual commissioners.

The commission's recommendation now goes to the Board of County Commissioners for review; if adopted, property owners will sign open-space taxation agreements and the assessor will administer the deferrals and compliance monitoring.

At least one commissioner asked how the county handles failed five-year plans; Brock said the assessor may grant administrative relief but also has tools to require back taxes and penalties if applicants fail to meet program obligations.