HARRISBURG:  Brenda Shambaugh, Legislative Director for the PA State Grange, testified this morning before the House Agriculture Committee on HB 2219 and HB 2065.

HB 2219 establishes an Agricultural Land Impact Fee.  Mrs. Shambaugh explained that the Grange’s policy deals with impact fees in general, not specifically addressing agricultural land impact fees.  She read the Grange’s policy as adopted in 2001, “We endorse a reasonable impact fee system where developers are assessed to pay foe new infrastructure costs such as roads and sewer systems.”

Brenda went on to state that, “Given the pressure many areas of the state are experiencing, the Grange believes that an impact fee may retard the development of farmland.”  She expressed the Grange’s concern with the $2000 per acre fee as proposed, stating, “In some places around the Commonwealth, farmland values are only $2000 or less per acre.  The Grange is concerned that the impact fee could equal or be more than the fair market value of the land.”  “A more practical approach,” she continued, “would be some percentage of the sale value or some type of sliding scale to determine the impact fee amount.”

HB 2065 allows townships to purchase and preserve agricultural land, then lease or sell it for agricultural production.  Mrs. Shambaugh stated, “Currently we [The Grange] believe that townships do have the option of purchasing land and participating in the farmland preservation program through Act 153 of 1996.”  She explained that this law does not amend the second class township code, but instead, amends an act of January 19, 1968 (1967 P.L. 992, No. 442).  She told the committee, “We support efforts to increase the number of farmland acres preserved.  If a farm is for sale and the township is willing to buy the land, they should have the option of preserving the farmland and leasing or selling the land to another farmer.”  She concluded by saying, “The goal is to keep farmland in production and take pressure off farmers to sell their land for development.”

The Grange is a family fraternal organization dedicated to the betterment of rural America through community service, education, legislation and fellowship.  It is the oldest agricultural organization of its kind in the United States. The National Grange (Patrons of Husbandry) began in 1867 and the PA State Grange was chartered in 1873.