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July - Aug. 2004 farmland preservation report news briefs Task force to urge priority preservation areas, doubling of ag transfer tax ANNAPOLIS, NW — While both of its last two meetings were supposed to be its last, a task force studying the Maryland farmland preservation program will meet at least one more time to report on changes needed to meet a legislative mandate to preserve 1.03 million agricultural acres by 2022. While some task force members appeared to be growing impatient with continuing debate, others were ready to form a subcommittee to scrutinize guidelines for creating Priority Preservation Areas (PPAs) that would receive dedicated new funding. Program administrators were keen on preventing mandates they would find difficult to meet. Funds from new sources should be used for landowner incentive grants in PPAs, the draft report states. It recom- mends doubling the state Agricultural Land Transfer Tax, now ranging from 3 to 5 percent. A $300 million bond is also urged. In addition to new funding, a critical farms program and installment purchase option are urged. Michigan House passes ag district, property tax credit law LANSING, MI — In exchange for keeping land in agricultural use for 20 years, Michigan farmers will be eligible to apply for a property tax rebate equalling $5 per acre under legislation passed almost unanimously June 30 by the House. The applicant's locality must have farmland preservation in its master plan, and, structures must be dedicated to ag use. "Farmland in Michigan is taxed at about two to three times the national average," said Jim Fuerstenau, executive director of the Michigan Farmland & Community Alliance. "So the House vote is a huge victory." N] Highlands protection bill robbed of its teeth, environmentalists say TRENTON, NJ — Supporters of landmark legislation aimed at protecting New Jersey's Highlands region say they are being stabbed in the back by Gov. James McGreevey as he signs a "smart growth" bill they say will cancel out the protections the Highlands bill would bring. About 40 environmental groups say S 1368 would "roll back 30 years of environmental protections" by "fast- track- ing" development in other areas of the state. "This bill raises the specter of permits being granted without regard to capacity or protection of natural re- sources...," said Michele Byers, executive director of the New Jersey Conservation Foundation and vice -chair of the State Planning Commission. "In addition, the bill does not require the kind of specific planning envisioned by the State Plan or the State Planning Commission." state briefs In New York ... Program administrator Ken Grudens has accepted a position with the Vero Beach Land Trust in FL. In Maryland ... The recently released 2002 ag census figures for value of ag products sold in some counties is a statistic some say doesn't reflect reality. "We take issue with it," said Baltimore County's Wally Lippincott of a market value of $62.1 million. "We state our number as approxi- mately $250 million — $62 million in census commodities, $125 million in nursery prod- ucts and $63 million in horse sales, not including boarding." Bill Powel of Carroll County said he questions a reported $2.2 million loss in ag value for his county. In Michigan ... Antrim County commissioners approved a farmland preservation program July 9 that will operate jointly with Grand Traverse County. A number of townships are poised to raise millage rates to fund the joint effort. Gov. Jennifer Granholm championed the effort by attending a kick-off fundraiser. In Washington D.C.... In testimony before the Senate Finance Commit- tee, Land Trust Alliance President Rand Wentworth outlined possible reforms in laws governing charitable contributions, including uniform appraisal stan- dards, state licensing of appraisers, and increased penalties for inflated appraisals. According to LTA director of public Page 5 policy Russ Shay, Senate Finance Committee staff are working on reforms that will be specific to land trusts. "We are working hard to see that new reforms are work- able, and that they carry with them the new tax incentives we have been seeking." The IRS issued a notice June 30 regard- ing "improper charitable deductions" from gifts of conservation easements, and warned about improper conservation buyer deals. The American Farmland Trust is under- going a restructuring, according to Jimmy Daukas. Tim Warman, who served as vice president for programs, has departed, and further announcements regarding changes are expected next month, Daukas said. "We have decided to restructure our manage- ment team under a single manager to make it more efficient." The organiza- tion currently has 55 employees and seven field offices. In Pennsylvania ... The legislature failed to vote on Gov. Edward Rendell's much heralded $800 million environmental bond initiative. "It's just sitting there - it never came to a vote,' said Charlie Day of the Greenspace Alliance. According to Andy Loza, executive director of the Pa. Land Trust Alliance, a reluctant legislature more intent on legalizing slot machines failed to approve the governor's request to place the bond issue on this fall's ballot. But a spring 2005 ballot has been men- tioned by key legislators as a possibility. .i