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2007 Land Stewardship and Conservation Task Force

The Kentucky Legislature in 2006 authorized the formation of a Land Stewardship and Conservation Task Force to develop recommendations for a comprehensive conservation program for Kentucky.  The Task Force is co-chaired by:

• Sen. Charlie Borders [Co-Chair]
• Rep. Robin L. Webb [Co-Chair]

The jurisdiction of the task force, as prescribed by the adopted Concurrent Resolution is as follows:

The Legislative Research Commission is hereby directed to create a Land Stewardship and Conservation Taskforce, that shall study the Commonwealth's strategy for the protection of natural areas, farmlands, habitats, and forests, and produce recommendations for a comprehensive land stewardship and conservation program, to be called the "Conserve Kentucky" program. The study shall include, but not be limited to: a review of the state's existing land preservation programs and their missions, their interactions, funding sources, and methods for prioritizing projects; a review of other states' land conservation programs and funding sources; a statewide assessment of potential areas and acreage that may be secured from willing participants; and an assessment of the sources and levels of funding needed to sustain a long-range plan.

Oldham County Judge/Executive Duane Murner is a member of the Task Force, representing the Kentucky Association of Counties.  Judge Murner has proposed new legislation that will assist counties in local land conservation programs.  Oldham Ahead support Judge/Executive Murner's initiative that we hope will be included in the Task Force's recommendations.

Oldham Ahead is very interested in the Task Force's potential outputs and recommendations.  Kentucky lags behind most states in its land conservation programs and results.  Moreover, the Commonwealth does not provide material assistance to counties in developing local programs supporting land conservation.  We have studied Virginia's Land Preservation Transferable Tax Credit Program for Conservation Easements and believe Kentucky should strongly consider incorporating elements of this program into the Conserve Kentucky overall recommendations.

Oldham Ahead President Doug Wampler, at the request of the Task Force,  provided two presentations to Task Force on June 6.  The first provided an overview of Virginia's conservation programs and its tax credit program.  He also provided a suggested framework for incorporation of transferable tax credits for conservation easements in 2008 legislation. 

Virginia, like Kentucky, is among those states near the bottom in annual funding and spending for land conservation programs.  To compensate for its lack of annual appropriations, Virginia, in 1999, was among four states that adopted enhanced tax credits to encourage the voluntary placement of conservation easements by private citizens.  In 2002, it added a transferability element for tax credits that can provide cash to landowners not otherwise eligible to use tax credits to offset state tax liabilities.  In short, the Virginia program assists "land rich and cash poor" landowners if addition to those who can take advantage of state tax credits.  Since 2000, Virginia has realized the following impressive results in acreage preserved.