Conservation Futures funds are used to acquire the land or the rights to future development of the land. Conservation Futures is administered by Pierce County Government. The Pierce County Council enacted the tax and all property taxpayers pay up to six and one-quarter cents per thousand dollars of assessed value of each Pierce County owned parcel. These monies, identified in the budget as Conservation Futures, are budgeted annually by the Pierce County Council. Any individual, who does not have an interest in the land, non-profit group, city, town, or Pierce County agency who wishes to preserve an eligible property can become a project Sponsor and nominate a property for purchase.
Property can be the land itself or certain rights associated with the property.
The seller of the property may retain limited use of the property rights as part of the sale transaction. The Sponsor starts the process by completing the Property Nomination application . The sponsor also signs a Sponsor's Affidavit indicating that the property owner is aware of the nomination and obtain a signature from a Receiving Agency on an Affidavit. The nomination application provides more information on this process. If the property is selected for purchase, the County makes an offer to purchase on a County Purchase and Sales Agreement.