The Transportation Equity Act for the 21st Century, adopted in May of 1998, re-authorized transportation spending through fiscal 2003. Private conservation organizations and public entities are eligible to apply for enhancements money. The program covers up to 80 percent of project costs. Contact state departments of transportation for more information about the application process. Benefits Federal grant programs that fund agricultural easement acquisitions make farmland protection a goal for the federal agencies that administer these programs.
Federal grants provide much-needed assistance to farmland protection programs.
Drawbacks Funding is not predictable from year to year. Proceeds from the tax are deposited in the general fund, and a flat dollar amount is earmarked for the farmland protection program. The General Assembly gave all Virginia localities the right to tax cellular phone usage in the mid-1990s. In other states local jurisdictions may already have the authority to tax cellular phone service. Farmland protection advocates should check with town or county counsel.