Tax policy should dictate land use

Marlene A. Condon Albemarle County
Published: July 25, 2008

Gov. Timothy M. Kaine visited Albemarle County recently to praise officials for their efforts to preserve land via the Acquisition of Conservation Easements.

The ACE program declares that “an easement provides a lasting benefit to the public through the protection of open space, scenic beauty, wildlife habitats, air and water quality.”

Around the same time, many folks were arguing whether some people should be granted an especially low rate of taxation known as “land use.”

Land-use taxation and the ACE program are both touted by government as a way to preserve land. But for what purpose?

A member of the Albemarle County Board of Supervisors said on a local radio program that “the farmers groom the land — that’s what makes it so beautiful.” And environmental groups constantly discuss “view-sheds.”

Yet “groomed land” and “viewsheds” are vain and shallow luxuries when the health of the Chesapeake Bay and numerous rivers are in rapid decline, impacting wildlife and thus people. 

The most important reason for a tax-reduction program should be preservation of our environment — the wildlife and plants that keep it functioning properly for our own health and well-being.

We need to encourage nature-friendly landscapes through tax policy.

Legislation that offers a conservation rate to folks with small or large parcels would help to inspire resi-dents to keep land in a more natural state of forest or overgrown field.

The only justification for giving a tax break to bona fide farmers is because their land requires fewer services from government.

Therefore, it’s not logical nor fair to deny a special rate to citizens who preserve land from development — even if only a one-, two- or three-acre parcel of forest or field — because this person actually does the most for all citizens of the area.

The person who does very little with his land does not pollute the streams that pro-vide drinking water for residents as well as replenishment for the bay.

Thus we should have a conservation tax rate on any land kept natural beyond the first acre that includes the dwelling.

People need to contact state legislators for they make the rules.