space” use value taxation, landowners must provide a commitment

space” use value taxation, landowners must provide a commitment that the land will remain open space - by donating a permanent conservation easement, enrolling in an agricultural or forestal district, or signing a special contract with the county.

I believe authorizing “open space” use value taxation would have two benefits in Rappahannock. First, it would provide an easily confirmed qualification standard. Second, since it would virtually guarantee continued use value taxation to anyone donating an easement or joining an agricultural/forestal district, I think the “open space” category would see additional acreage so designated - providing greater assurance of future tax protection for all of us.

Believing that the required future commitment would virtually eliminate abuse of the use value system, officials in both Culpeper and F auquier counties are considering granting use value taxation only to lands in the “open space” category.

Remember that in Culpeper a C alifornia-based builder recently bought 5000 acres, removed them from an existing agricultural/forestal district (it was up for renewal), announced intention to create a mammoth new commercial-residential community, but continues to meet the production standards for use value taxation. Some Culpeper officials don’t want to provide that subsidy to a new town.

I’m not sure that wbthout evidence of abuse it is necessary or even desirable to adopt an “open space only” use value strategy in Rappahannock “County. But, if it would build public confidence in the way the system works, maybe the option is worth discussing,

Any any rate, if adopted by June 30, the “open space” category can be working for all of us in 1990.

Mr. Dennis is a director of RLEP arid president of the Piedmont Environmental Council. He and his wife reside on their HI acres of mostly woodland outside of Flint Hill in Rappahannock County.