Subdivision 1.Fee.

A county that is a metropolitan county under section 473.121, subdivision 4, has allowed exclusive agricultural zones to be created under this chapter, or has elected to become an agricultural land preservation pilot county, shall impose an additional fee of $5 per transaction on the recording or registration of a mortgage subject to the tax under section 287.05 and an additional $5 on the recording or registration of a deed subject to the tax under section 287.21. One-half of the fee must be deposited in a special conservation account to be created in the county general revenue fund and one-half must be transferred to the commissioner of revenue for deposit in the state treasury pursuant to section 40A.151, subdivision 1.

Subd. 2.Use of account.

Terms Used In Minnesota Statutes 40A.152

  • Agricultural use: means the production of livestock, dairy animals, dairy products, poultry or poultry products, fur-bearing animals, horticultural or nursery stock, fruit, vegetables, forage, grains, timber, trees, or bees and apiary products. See Minnesota Statutes 40A.02
  • Commissioner: means the commissioner of agriculture. See Minnesota Statutes 40A.02
  • controls: has the meaning given in section 394. See Minnesota Statutes 40A.02
  • Deed: The legal instrument used to transfer title in real property from one person to another.
  • Mortgage: The written agreement pledging property to a creditor as collateral for a loan.
  • state: extends to and includes the District of Columbia and the several territories. See Minnesota Statutes 645.44
  • Tax: means any fee, charge, exaction, or assessment imposed by a governmental entity on an individual, person, entity, transaction, good, service, or other thing. See Minnesota Statutes 645.44

Money from the county conservation account must be spent by the county to reimburse the county and taxing jurisdictions within the county for revenue lost under the conservation tax credit under section 273.119 or the valuation of agricultural preserves under section 473H.10. If expenditures from other county funds for the same purposes remain at least equal to the amount spent in the previous county budget year, money remaining in the account after the reimbursements are made may be spent for the following purposes:

(1) agricultural land preservation and conservation planning and implementation of official controls under this chapter or chapter 473H;

(2) soil conservation activities and enforcement of soil loss ordinances;

(3) incentives for landowners who create exclusive agricultural use zones;

(4) payments to municipalities within the county for the purposes of clauses (1) to (3).

Subd. 3.Transfer to state fund.

Money in the county conservation account that is not encumbered by the county within one year of deposit in the account must be transferred to the commissioner of revenue for deposit in the state treasury pursuant to section 40A.151, subdivision 1.