§ 30-2-103. VOLUNTARY PARTICIPATION IN LOCAL OPEN SPACE COSTS.

(a)

Program established. There is a voluntary participation in local open space costs program to facilitate and encourage voluntary contributions by county residents to be used to fund the acquisition of land for open space parcels as authorized by supplemental budget appropriations.

(b)

Explanation of program in tax bill.

(1)

The county shall explain the program on an insert mailed with the annual tax bills.

(2)

The insert shall include a remittance form to facilitate contributions.

(c)

Disposition of contributions. The county shall credit all money contributed to the program to the local open space revenue account in the capital improvement fund.

(d)

Use of revenue account funds.

(1)

(i)

The county shall first use the money deposited in the revenue account to offset the administrative costs of the program.

(ii)

If there is not a sufficient amount of money to offset the costs of the program in any year, the Director of Budget and Finance may not include the insert and remittance form required by subsection (b) of this section with the tax bill for the following year.

(iii)

The deposit account shall remain open to contributions even if the insert and remittance form are not included with the tax bill.

(2)

After application of the money to administrative costs the county shall:

(i)

Use all remaining contributions solely for local open space acquisition costs; and

(ii)

Accumulate contributions in the revenue account until a supplemental appropriation is made in the capital improvement fund.

(3)

Budget appropriations made in accordance with this section may not establish a continuing program that creates a financial obligation for a subsequent year's current expense operating budget.

(e)

Duty of Director to propose uses for funds.

(1)

The Director annually shall develop a list of proposed uses for the contributions accumulated in the revenue account.

(2)

Before October 15 of each year, the Director, with the County Executive or the County Administrative Officer, shall consult with and submit to the County Council a list of proposed uses of the contributions accumulated in the revenue account.

(3)

The submission shall occur before formulating a supplemental budget appropriation request for proposed expenditures.

(1988 Code, § 29-5) (Bill No. 2, 1990, § 2; Bill No. 114-99, § 5, 7-1-2004)