Sec. 1. Appropriation. The following funds are appropriated from the General Fund to carry out the purposes of this Act.

2001-02 2002-03

AGRICULTURE, FOOD AND RURAL

RESOURCES, DEPARTMENT OF

Office of the Commissioner

Positions - Legislative Count (1.000) (1.000)

Personal Services $42,709 $59,083

All Other 2,500 2,500

Capital Expenditures 3,500

Provides funds for one additional Senior Planner position to provide financial and estate planning to farmers, to provide outreach and assistance concerning land management and limited development planning in order to bring agricultural projects before the Land for Maine's Future Board and to conduct research and data collection in order to establish a baseline of information about farmland values for guidelines for assessors to use in the farm and open space tax program.

DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE, FOOD

AND RURAL RESOURCES ______ ______

TOTAL $48,709 $61,583

SUMMARY

This bill appropriates funds to establish an additional Senior Planner position within the Department of Agriculture, Food and Rural Resources. This position will provide various outreach, planning and research functions for state farmers.