County to take up farmland tax proposalJuly 14th, 2005 - 7:42am (Port Angeles, WA) -- Clallam County Commissioners will hold a worksession a week from Tuesday to begin drafting ballot language on a tax to help protect farmland. If placed on the ballot this fall and approved by voters, Clallam property buyers would pay a one-percent excise tax on real estate transactions. County Commissioner Mike Chapman says a ballot title will need to be done by mid-September in order for the measure to make the November ballot. Commissioners received a petition supporting the measure at Tuesday's regular meeting at the Courthouse. Chapman says he's in favor of letting the community have a chance to vote on the issue. Proponents of the measure say the tax would raise more than 5 million dollars annually to buy easements on farmland. Chapman says the Prosecutor's office must approve ballot language that meets state law. The worksession on the ballot language will be held Tuesday, July 26th at 9 AM, prior to the regular Commissioners' meeting.
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