Conservation Groups in Pennsylvania, Nation Score Victories in 2006 Election
In the 2006 midterm elections in Pennsylvania, 22 open space conservation referendums appeared on the ballot. Conservation and land use groups around the state, such as 10,000 Friends of Pennsylvania, experienced a victory when 20 of the proposed ballot initiatives were passed by voters, totaling more than $150 million in funding for conservation.
Both property and income tax increases, and bond measures were approved to raise funding for the purchase of open space, land easements, parks, and farmland, as well as funding dedicated to efforts for conservation of those lands. Conservation and land use groups in Pennsylvania have long been working to raise voter awareness of these issues. Pennsylvania has some of the most fertile farmland in the world, as well as scenic parks and forests, and as expanding suburban development infringes on those lands, more efforts must be made to save them.
In 2006, nearly all of the initiatives that passed were concentrated in counties in southeastern Pennsylvania. In Whitemarsh Township, Montgomery County, for example, voters approved a 0.25 percent income tax increase for the preservation of open space and farmland, which will generate revenues in excess of $20 million. In Upper Dublin Township, also located in Montgomery County, voters approved a $30 million bond for the acquisition of land and easements to protect natural and cultural resources. In other municipalities in southeastern Pennsylvania,
Pennsylvania ranked third in the number of initiatives proposed, but ranked first in the number passed. Thirty seven ballot initiatives were proposed in Massachusetts, while 18 passed. In New Jersey, 26 appeared on the ballot, and 16 initiatives were passed.
Nationally, 134 measures were passed in 2006, granting more than $29 billion to open space conservation and farmland preservation efforts around the country. Since 1988, voters have authorized ballot initiatives that quadrupled dedicated funding for conservation issues.
For a detailed database of open space ballot initiatives in Pennsylvania, as well as in other states, visit the Trust for Public Land’s
website.
President Bush signed H.R. 4 into law on August 17th, 2006, which expands federal tax incentives for conservation easement donors.
Section 1206 of the pensions bill (HR 4) recently passed by Congress extends significant tax benefits to moderate-income landowners and farmers for making the extraordinarily valuable donation of a conservation easement, restricting future development of their land to protect a resource important to the public. Most such donations are made to local, community-based charities dedicated to keeping land in agriculture, conserving important wildlife habitats, and protecting important open space and historic resources.
This provision would be effective for donations made from January 1, 2006 through December 31, 2007. After that, the law would revert back to previous provisions, unless Congress extend the provision prior to the deadline.
The law will only apply to easements donated in 2006 and 2007. Go to Pa. Land Trust Alliance to download the actual bill language or read summary materials.
CBF Releases Multi-State Guide to Farmland Preservation – August 2006
The Chesapeake Bay Foundation (CBF) has released a new guide that takes a comprehensive look at farmland preservation in the Chesapeake Bay region. A Guide to Preserving Agricultural Lands in the Chesapeake Bay Region: Keeping Stewards on the Land provides state-specific details on easements, development rights, planning and zoning regulations, and state and federal land preservation programs. For a copy of the report, visit
http://www.cbf.org or call April Sheesley at (443) 482-2150.
Growing Greener Bond Initiative
Governor Rendell Says PA Investing in the Future with Environmental Grants - November 2, 2005
Governor Ed Rendell announced the first installment of $65 million in grants under Growing Greener II, funding 140 projects in 50 counties. In announcing the funding, the Governor said this "brings to fruition more than a year of aggressive efforts to address some of the state’s most pressing environmental problems and help the state win the race for revitalized communities, new business and job creation."
Click here for the full release, and list of projects.
Growing Greener Environmental Stewardship and Watershed Protection Enhancement Authorization Act
On April 13, Governor Edward G. Rendell signed into law House Bill 2, which authorizes a question on the spring 2005 primary ballot asking voters to consider a $625 million bond issue to improve both the economic and environmental health of our Commonwealth. The referendum was approved by voters in the May 17 2005 primary, and the legislature will now develop enabling legislation. The new law brings to fruition more than a year of efforts by the Governor to address some of the state’s most pressing environmental problems and offer residents a higher quality of life.
The $625 million bond issue, which passed with overwhelming bipartisan support from the Legislature, will protect working farms; preserve natural areas and open spaces; clean up rivers and streams; take on serious environmental problems at abandoned mines and contaminated industrial sites; shore up key programs that are dangerously short of funds; improve our state parks; enhance local recreational needs; repair fish hatcheries and other habitat-related facilities; and revitalize communities across the Commonwealth.
As the Governor said: “If authorized by voters, this historic investment will be terrific not just for Pennsylvania’s environment, but its economy and overall quality of life. I applaud the Legislature for putting this initiative before the voters of Pennsylvania, and urge citizens to have their voices heard in the spring primary election on an important package that will dramatically improve the environment and quality of life in Pennsylvania.”
Click here to read the remarks of 10,000 Friends President Eric Menzer at a rally in the State Capitol in January 2005, on Growing Greener and the value of the tax credits as a component of the Growing Greener package.
Open Space Organizations
Access to open space is important for every community in Pennsylvania. There are many tools available to allow and encourage the preservation of open space.
For more information about the benefits of open space preservation, visit any of the sites below.
