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House GOP leaders gut conservation bill

Contact:  Chuck Oxley   (208) 871-4976 (office)  

BOISE, Idaho – House Republican leaders on the Revenue and Taxation Committee are trying to water down a bill that would allow farmers and ranchers to claim tax credits in exchange for agreeing to leave their land undeveloped.

“An impressive coalition of farm, forest, sporting groups and conservationists has been working together for more than two years to craft this legislation. Yet, the Republican leaders want to muck it up with their partisan ideology,” House Democratic Leader Wendy Jaquet said.

The stated purpose of House Bill 467 is to “help keep Idaho’s rural working lands working and give the State of Idaho a tool to meet the state’s most important wildlife objectives. Idaho’s working farms, ranches and timberlands offer the way of life, rural character, open space and outdoor recreation vital to maintaining Idaho’s natural resource heritage.”

The bill would provide a tax credit to owners of these lands who voluntarily agree not to develop eligible lands over a time horizon of 30 years or more. Landowners could receive a refundable income tax credit equal to half of the appraised value of the perpetual conservation easement, with a maximum benefit of $500,000. But Donnelly Real Estate Developer Ken Roberts, the House Republican Caucus Chairman, wants to change the time frame of the agreement to increments of between five and 50 years. But that change would eliminate the essence of the bill’s intention, which is to preserve the land for the long-term future.

“This bill would have provided one tool among many for rural landowners who wish to take advantage of the tax credit. If they want their land used the same way it is today – as forest, farm or ranch – then they can apply for this credit,” Jaquet added. “And, this bill is only for volunteers – no landowner is forced into anything.”

Additionally, further tinkering with the bill disrespects the work of the coalition that has negotiated the bill thus far, said Assistant Democratic Leader George Sayler of Coeur D’Alene.

“We should honor their effort and trust their judgment,” Sayler said.

Sayler said it appeared that some Republicans opposed the bill simply because their own property wouldn’t qualify for the credit.

“This bill is not a cure-all -- but just because one’s land is not included, it’s to reason to deny the will of the people,” Sayler said.

Addressing the issue brought up by Roberts in the committee hearing -- that somehow agreeing to be a part of this tax credit “ties the hands of future generations” -- Jaquet said, ”The whole  point of the bill is to preserve the value of the land for future generations.”

“This is just another example of the Republicans failing to make progress on an issue that is important to ordinary Idahoans, such as our farmers, foresters, ranchers and recreationists,” Jaquet said.