What new benefits do farmland security zone contracts offer to landowners?
Farmland security zones offer landowners greater property tax reduction. Land restricted by a farmland security zone contract is valued for property assessment purposes at 65% of its Williamson Act valuation, or 65% of its Proposition 13 valuation, whichever is lower. New special taxes for urban-related services must be levied at an unspecified reduced rate unless the tax directly benefits the land or living improvements. Cities and special districts that provide non-agricultural services are generally prohibited from annexing land enrolled under a farmland security zone contract. Lastly, school districts are prohibited from taking farmland security zone lands for school facilities.
