MARYLAND LAND PRESERVATION DASHBOARD
Cumulative Acres of Land Preserved Through December 2008
Developed 20%
Acres Preserved, Developed, and Undeveloped
Other 11% MD Env. Trust 14%
Rural Legacy 9%
Acres Under Easement by Program
Publicly Owned 11% Under Easement 11%
Undeveloped 58%
MD Ag. Land Pres. Prog. 41%
County Programs 26%
Total Acres = 6,190,193
Acres Under Easement = 672,766
State Land Preservation Spending Fiscal 2000 to 2008
This exhibit shows State land preservation spending for the following programs: Program Open Space State share, Maryland Agricultural Land Preservation Foundation, Rural Legacy, and GreenPrint. A large share of funding for these programs comes from the real property transfer tax. Revenues vary from year to year depending on the housing market.
Fiscal 2004 through 2006 spending reflect a period in which transfer tax funding for land preservation was diverted to the General Fund. Fiscal 2007 and 2008 spending reflect full transfer tax funding for land preservation and an increase in transfer tax revenues. In the 2009 legislative session the Program Open Space State share fund balance was replaced by the authorization to issue bonds backed by future transfer tax revenue.
$160
$ In Millions
$140 $120
$100 $80
$60 $40 $20 $ 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008
Acres of Farmland Preserved versus Converted to Other Uses 1980 to 2008
50,000 45,000
40,000 35,000 30,000 25,000 20,000 15,000
10,000 5,000
0
Converted Farmland
Preserved Farmland
Prepared by: Department of Legislative Services Sources: Maryland Department of Agriculture; Department of Natural Resources; Maryland Department of Planning; and Department of Legislative Services
Contact: Andrew Gray (410-946-5530) Updated: June 29, 2009