"Rewarding Private Landowners for Helping Wildlife"
Yes, but who pays the reward?
This is the reward: Tax Benefit! A nice reward that ODFW does not have to pay!
How much is this collective reward given to property owners in Deschutes County?
Is it worth it? Maybe to the property owner. What if they were not given the reward? What changes? The Transect is certainly going to develop high end homes for people rich enough to afford a country estate in acres of private woodland. If they can't get that reward they would probably qualify for Designated Forestland tax assessment.
"Property enrolled in the program is eligible for a wildlife habitat special assessment, with property taxes assessed at the same rate as farm or forest special assessment."
"Is my property eligible?
Each participating county or city has identified specific land use zones (exclusive farm use, mixed farm and forest use, or forest use) and/or significant wildlife habitat areas that are eligible for the program. Interested landowners should call the local planning or assessor's department to determine if their property is in an eligible area. A county or city official needs to fill out a form provided by ODFW to certify that the property is eligible. The form is available at: www.dfw.state.or.us/lands/whcmp."
"How do I develop a wildlife habitat conservation and management plan?
An interested landowner with eligible property develops a wildlife habitat plan in conjunction with a cooperating agency. A cooperating agency can be ODFW, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Natural Resources Conservation Service, a city or county, a soil and water conservation district, extension service or other qualified persons."
Assistance to develop a plan is abundantly available. To make sure that it passes review hire an other qualified person to draw it up. It is like hiring a lawyer instead of doing it yourself. No government agency is going to challenge a professional Wildlife lawyer or Phd and face an appeal they have to defend! The investment in professional preparation has substantial payback because once the Wildlife tax break is granted it will payback....for....forever? Every year at property tax time until the property is sold? Then maybe transferred?
Maybe it is as easy as filling out this free Application Template provided by the state of Oregon
https://www.dfw.state.or.us/lands/whcmp/sample_plan.pdf
Or this how to avoid property tax by preserving wildlife guide. Win.Win!
http://www.srnpdx.org/state-tax-incentives-for-conservation.html
Another guide and template:
https://www.dfw.state.or.us/lands/whcmp/index.asp
What if the application does not qualify? Then plan B:
If the plan is not being implemented, or if the landowner chooses to withdraw from the program, the county assessor removes the land from wildlife habitat special assessment. If the land still qualifies for a previous farm or forest special assessment, the landowner may not owe back taxes. If the land does not qualify for another special assessment, the landowner may owe back taxes.
"How do I develop a wildlife habitat conservation and management plan?
An interested landowner with eligible property develops a wildlife habitat plan in conjunction with a cooperating agency. A cooperating agency can be ODFW, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Natural Resources Conservation Service, a city or county, a soil and water conservation district, extension service or other qualified persons."
Assistance to develop a plan is abundantly available. To make sure that it passes review hire an other qualified person to draw it up. It is like hiring a lawyer instead of doing it yourself. No government agency is going to challenge a professional Wildlife lawyer or Phd and face an appeal they have to defend! The investment in professional preparation has substantial payback because once the Wildlife tax break is granted it will payback....for....forever? Every year at property tax time until the property is sold? Then maybe transferred?
Maybe it is as easy as filling out this free Application Template provided by the state of Oregon
https://www.dfw.state.or.us/lands/whcmp/sample_plan.pdf
Or this how to avoid property tax by preserving wildlife guide. Win.Win!
http://www.srnpdx.org/state-tax-incentives-for-conservation.html
Another guide and template:
https://www.dfw.state.or.us/lands/whcmp/index.asp
What if the application does not qualify? Then plan B:
If the plan is not being implemented, or if the landowner chooses to withdraw from the program, the county assessor removes the land from wildlife habitat special assessment. If the land still qualifies for a previous farm or forest special assessment, the landowner may not owe back taxes. If the land does not qualify for another special assessment, the landowner may owe back taxes.
Transect property owners may qualify for this wildlife program and receive a substantial property tax break.
This program has been abused in Deschutes County:
https://www.oregonlive.com/environment/index.ssf/2011/03/some_property_owners_abusing_w.html
The more important question is: If property owners apply and qualify for this program then what is their collective property tax reduction and is it the equal collective tax increase to all other county residents in the reduction of Deschutes County property tax revenue to protect wildlife under this program?
A zero sum game? A few get a large tax benefit offset by a small tax increase to all other county property tax payers?
Does it work that way?
Looks like it to me.
The same question applies to Designated Forestland in Deschutes county. Especially Designated Forestland within the city limits of Bend as well as small acreage (minimum 2 acres to qualify) anywhere in the county granted this tax category of about $75. per acre assessed value? Three properties on Bachelor View Rd. assessed at $2.4 million pay less than $100.00 annual property tax because they got county assessor approval to grow trees for timber profit in the city? Collective county and city taxpayers pay what this one land owner does not?
https://www.dfw.state.or.us/lands/whcmp/county_manual.pdf
Counties: Current status of participation
Currently, fifteen counties participate in the program – Benton, Clackamas, Columbia, Deschutes, Douglas, Hood River, Lake, Lane, Marion, Morrow, Multnomah, Polk, Sherman, Washington and Wheeler (see map on page 6).
[OAR 635-430-0025(5)]
Application Form:
https://www.oregon.gov/DOR/forms/FormsPubs/303-083.pdf
Currently, fifteen counties participate in the program – Benton, Clackamas, Columbia, Deschutes, Douglas, Hood River, Lake, Lane, Marion, Morrow, Multnomah, Polk, Sherman, Washington and Wheeler (see map on page 6).
[OAR 635-430-0025(5)]
Application Form:
https://www.oregon.gov/DOR/forms/FormsPubs/303-083.pdf
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