Discuss, consider, and take appropriate action regarding the Williamson County Regional Habitat Conservation Plan (RHCP) approval of enrollment of properties participating during the 2023 calendar year (any participation received on or prior to 12/31/23) into the tax benefit financing plan for tax year 2023 and to re-enroll prior year permit participant properties.

The county's Regional Habitat Conservation Plan (RHCP), approved in 2008, provides for a portion of the increase in tax valuation for properties enrolled under the county's 10(a) incidental take permit with the US Fish and Wildlife Service to be directed to the Williamson County Conservation Foundation (WCCF) as the county’s contribution for the acquisition, maintenance and monitoring of endangered species habitat in the county. Specifically, under the RHCP, a calculation is made using a base enrollment period. The taxable value of the base enrollment period is determined and a percentage – 15% as defined in the RHCP – of the increase in value in future taxable years is calculated. That calculated taxable value percentage is applied to the county's then current tax rate for maintenance and operations and the resulting sum is attributed to the RHCP and directed to the WCCF's investment corpus.  There is no increase nor decrease in taxes to participants/property owners. Once the defined financial goals of the RHCP have been achieved then the allocation under this plan may be, but is not mandated to be, altered depending upon the existing conservation goals and requirements. The financial goal is primarily determined by the ability to maintain preserve properties (monitoring, maintenance, gain or accession and sustainability) in perpetuity and may be adjusted depending upon future conservation requirements of the RHCP including, but not limited to, the existing County needs for dealing with species listed under the Endangered Species Act (as amended) or for related conservation activities which may include acquisition of requisite conservation land(s).  

Enrollment is on a year-to-year basis. Attached is a detailed list of private party participants for 2023 and lists for prior year enrollments. The action needed is to enroll the 2023 participants and to re-enroll/extend the Tax Benefit Financing for previous year's enrollees.  The WCCF Board, on 1/17/2024, took action recommending the enrollment of the 2023 participants and re-enrollment of prior enrollees.