The Advance Land Acquisition Revolving Fund (ALARF) was established to support the implementation of capital projects and facility programs in the County. Acquisition of land in advance of actual construction saves money in the inevitability of rising land prices and enables suitable locations for libraries, fire stations, and similar facilities to be secured before development begins. By waiting for actual construction plans begin to start the acquisition process eliminates choice and forces acceptance of a less desirable and accessible site. The revolving fund works in the following way: the unencumbered revolving appropriation balance in the fund is used to purchase land for various public facilities which are either approved in the capital program or which appear in adopted area master plans. Later, the revolving fund is reimbursed by appropriations to the specific facility project accounts; then, the associated expenditures are transferred from the ALARF project to the facility project, thereby freeing up the appropriation for future expenditures. The reimbursement is desirable for accounting purposes in order to make the cost of the site clearly a part of the total cost of a specific project. Reimbursement also maintains the balance in the revolving fund. As needed, reimbursements are scheduled in the capital program. Cost estimates are not given for possible acquisitions since any estimates would be speculative. Immediately prior to initiating acquisition proceedings on any site, independent professional appraisals are prepared. When projected land costs appear to be considerably greater than anticipated, consultation with the County Council is useful. Consultation with County Council is useful in the event the County Executive proceeds with advance land acquisition in years before those are shown on project description forms. The cumulative appropriation is the amount of the revolving fund, as well as certain special appropriations to this project as described below. Costs shown for prior years include the land acquisition reimbursable to the fund and other charges incurred in site selection, such as appraisal, legal costs, and other required actions. Also displayed, as appropriate, are expenditures associated with special appropriations, not to be reimbursed. The nonreimbursable amounts are considered sunk costs. ALARF acquisitions are typically reimbursed by appropriations from projects with various revenue sources.

Expenditures to buy land using ALARF appropriations made after October 5, 1998, must be reimbursed to the revolving fund. If the County does not intend to reimburse the fund, then the land cannot be purchased from the fund's appropriation and must be purchased in a separate project. This restriction does not apply to land already purchased. To ensure that the County does not lose the opportunity to acquire sites for future projects, the Council encourages the Executive to acquire more sites and to acquire sites earlier than previously assumed. The Council also urges the County Executive to work with Maryland-National Capital Park and Planning Commission staff to review future facility needs in master plans and department strategic plans to identify sites beyond those for projects in facility planning and the current CIP for acquisition. If more sites are acquired, the existing balance may not be sufficient, and the Council encourages the Executive to recommend a supplemental appropriation if necessary.

Expenditures and resources for Silver Spring ALARF (as part of the Silver Spring Redevelopment Project) previously shown here have been closed out.

Expenditures will continue indefinitely.

Department of General Services, Other County Departments, Office of Management and Budget, Department of Finance