About Proposition A
PROPOSITION A
Kendall County is a very special place to live with its natural areas, clean water, wildlife habitat, and open vistas. This beautiful county is also one of the fastest growing and developing counties in the United States.
In 2022, Kendall County voters approved, by 2/3 majority vote, Proposition “A” providing $20 Million in funding to protect land through conservation easements and the purchase of land for parks and open space.
Proposition A Ballot Language
“THE ISSUANCE OF NOT TO EXCEED $20,000,000 OF KENDALL COUNTY, TEXAS, GENERAL OBLIGATION BONDS FOR ACQUIRING OPEN SPACE AND CONSERVATION LAND AND ACQUIRING CONSERVATION EASEMENTS ON LAND FOR ANY AUTHORIZED PURPOSES, INCLUDING TO ENSURE ITS AVAILABILITY FOR RECREATIONAL OR OPEN-SPACE USE OR TO PROTECT WILDLIFE HABITAT AND THE WATER QUALITY OF CREEKS, RIVERS AND SPRINGS, AND THE LEVYING OF A TAX IN PAYMENT THEREOF.”
Conservation Easements
Kendall County is encouraging land conservation by offering financial incentives for implementing conservation easements. A Conservation Easement is a voluntary legal agreement between a landowner and a land trust that restricts the type and amount of development that may take place on a property in the future. Conservation easements are custom tailored according to the goals of each landowner and provide federal income tax benefits while enabling landowners to maintain ownership of and the right to convey their property.
Why consider a conservation easement on your property?
• To preserve the land’s beauty and natural resources by limiting residential, industrial, or commercial development
• To protect rivers, streams, springs, farms, ranches, scenic vistas, wildlife habitats, and historical sites
• To safeguard groundwater recharge that replenishes our aquifers
• To fulfill your vision for the property including reserving specific locations for future buildings (e.g. barns, home sites)
In some instances, the county may be open to purchasing a portion of a lands conservation value.
Purchase of Land for Parks & Open Space
The county is interested in purchasing property for parkland, specifically land with live water, mature trees, and healthy wildlife habitat. This is a standard real estate transaction in which the county purchases a property or portion of a property for conservation.
Land Donation
Kendall County welcomes donations of land to serve as parks or open space, whether that land is donated now or via a life estate. County funds may be used to cover legal and other diligence costs associated with a donation of land.