Item C-15 |
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A.1. Upon meeting the contingencies set forth in this paragraph and the written approval of the Secretary of Finance and the Chairs of the House Appropriations and the Senate Finance and Appropriations Committees, the Department may acquire and/or accept the donation of up to 1,250 acres of real property owned by land preservation organizations in Loudoun County to establish a new state park to be known as Oak Hill State Park. This authorization is contingent upon the following:
a. the submission of a comprehensive funding plan that includes confirmation of $52,000,000 of nongeneral fund resources to fully support the acquisition and subsequent development and operation of the proposed park, including $22,000,000 from Loudoun County, up to $18,000,000 in state and federal nongeneral funds, and at least $12,000,000 in philanthropic and private sector support;
b. the selection of a community foundation that has committed to holding and managing an endowment of the park;
c. the initial launch of a Citizen Support Organization (CSO) to operate as a non-profit affiliate and support organization for the park, with such CSO operating under a fiscal sponsorship agreement with a local community foundation; and,
d. the creation of a CSO advisory board consisting of representatives from the Department, the Department of Historic Resources, Loudoun County, The Conservation Fund, local/regional conservation and preservation organizations, national presidential commemorative or educational organizations, and the local philanthropic community, to develop bylaws, begin organizational growth and fundraising, and serve as a partner to the Department to complete the necessary steps to open and operate the park.
2. The Department shall report to the Secretary of Finance and the Chairs of the House Appropriations and Senate Finance and Appropriations Committees, on the status of achieving the deliverables no later than August 31, 2026, with a final report of such deliverables submitted no later than December 1, 2026.
3. Upon written approval of the Secretary of Finance and the Chairs of the House Appropriations Committee and the Senate Finance and Appropriations Committee, the Director, Department of Planning and Budget, is authorized to establish nongeneral fund appropriation to support the acquisition. In addition, the Director, Department of Planning and Budget, is authorized to appropriate nongeneral fund operating appropriation to support the activation and operation of Oak Hill State Park.
4. It is the intent of this Item that the acquisition and operation of Oak Hill State Park will be supported entirely by the nongeneral funds cited in this paragraph and revenues generated from Oak Hill State Park. No general fund appropriation shall be provided to support capital improvements to, or the operations of, Oak Hill State Park. All future costs associated with Oak Hill State Park shall be funded using revenues generated from Oak Hill State Park or by funds provided by the established Citizen Support Organization.