Cost of Community Services Studies
Smart Growth Coalition contracted with American Farmland Trust to conduct Cost of Community Service (COCS) Studies. These studies compare the net fiscal impacts of farm/open land uses to commercial/industrial and residential land uses. This information helps county officials understand the benefits and costs of different types of land development in order to evaluate growth strategies. The studies are showing that farm/open land and commercial/industrial land uses are important to fiscal balance. Together they help offset the shortfalls of providing county-level services to residential development.