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WHEREAS, the
New Jersey Farmland Assessment program was created by the voters
through a constitutional amendment in 1963 to reduce the economic
impact of local property taxes on farming activities in New Jersey;
and
WHEREAS, the
Legislature enacted the Farmland Assessment Act of 1964 to implement
and administer this constitutional provision; and
WHEREAS, these
actions were prompted by a concern that the economic viability of
the farming community, especially family-owned and family-operated
farms, could be threatened by rapidly rising property taxes; and
WHEREAS, agriculture
is a unique industry that contributes income, employment, economic
diversity and environmental benefits to improve the quality of life
experienced by New Jersey citizens; and
WHEREAS, New
Jersey farms rank in the top ten states nationally in production
of cranberries, blueberries, peaches, tomatoes and nursery plants,
and over eight thousand farms covering more than one million acres
produce over 150 different JERSEY FRESH products, which are distributed
to feed millions throughout the nation and worldwide; and
WHEREAS, the
Farmland Assessment program has enormous importance for the State's
economy and environment, since approximately one-quarter of all
land in New Jersey has qualified for property tax treatment pursuant
to this program; and
WHEREAS, the
Farmland Assessment program has provided an economic benefit to
landowners of land on which farming occurs, and provided financial
incentives for the continuation of these farming operations; and
WHEREAS, the
Farmland Assessment program, by exempting qualifying farmlands from
normal property taxation rates, has altered the property tax base
of New Jersey municipalities, while at the same time limiting the
growth in demand for certain municipal services and infrastructure
that could be triggered by increased development; and
WHEREAS, almost
thirty years have passed since the establishment of the Farmland
Assessment program, a periodic review is needed to quantify and
evaluate the uniformity, consistency and effectiveness in the interpretation,
application and administration of Farmland Assessment requirements
and procedures, and the overall impacts of this program on the State's
economy and environment;
NOW, THEREFORE,
I, JAMES J. FLORIO, Governor of the State of New Jersey, by virtue
of the authority vested in me by the New Jersey Constitution and
by the Statutes of this State, do hereby ORDER and DIRECT:
l. The creation
of the Task Force for the Review of the Farmland Assessment Program
(hereinafter "Task Force") to conduct a comprehensive review of
the Farmland Assessment program. This Task Force shall perform
the following tasks:
a. The
Task Force shall gather financial and technical information
on the Farmland Assessment program and quantify and analyze
the effectiveness and impacts of the program. In particular,
the Task Force shall study the following program impacts:
i. the
economic impact in strengthening the viability and continued
existence of the farming community in New Jersey, including
shifts in farmland ownership patterns and farming practices;
ii.
the financial impact of the program on the property tax base
of New Jersey municipalities, including an analysis of both
the program's effect on property tax revenues available to
municipalities and the demand for municipal services and infrastructure
that would otherwise result from more intensive development;
b. The
Task Force shall identify possible options for revising requirements
to qualify land for farmland assessment, and analyze the effectiveness
and impacts of each option;
c. The
Task Force shall evaluate the State, county and municipal administration
of the program, and identify possible options for improving
the administration of the program.
2. The Task
Force, which shall be chaired by an individual selected by the
Governor from among the public members, shall be constituted as
follows:
a. the
Secretary of the New Jersey Department of Agriculture, or his
designee;
b. the
Treasurer of the State of New Jersey, or his designee;
c. the
Commissioner of the Department of Environmental Protection and
Energy, or her designee;
d. the
President of the New Jersey State Board of Agriculture, or the
Vice President, if so designated by the President;
e. the
President of the New Jersey Farm Bureau;
f. ten
public members to be appointed by the Governor who shall broadly
reflect an experience and interest in agriculture, taxation,
environment, county and local government, economic development
and such other areas which are appropriate to the work of the
Task Force, provided, however, that at least five such members
shall be individuals currently owning and/or operating a New
Jersey farm.
3. The Department
of Agriculture, the Treasury Department, the Department of Environmental
Protection and Energy, the New Jersey Agricultural Experiment
Station, and all other State departments and agencies are hereby
directed to cooperate with the Task Force and to furnish it with
any information, staffing support or other assistance as necessary
to accomplish the purposes of this Order.
4. The Task
Force shall provide a report of its analysis to the Governor no
later than May 1, 1994.
5. This
Order shall take effect immediately.
GIVEN,
under my hand and seal this
25th day of October in the Year of Our
Lord, one thousand nine hundred and
ninety-three, and of the Independence
of the United States, the two hundred
and eighteenth.
/s/
James Florio
Governor
Attest:
/s/ Scott
A. Weiner
Chief Counsel to the Governor
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