PATC tax exempt status threatened
Jan 26, 2015 18:37:10 GMT -5
Post by aseege1 on Jan 26, 2015 18:37:10 GMT -5
Please write if you live in this region urging Mr. Minchew to vote against the bill. I've attached the President's letter to the members below, along with contact info.
Delegate Randy Minchew, - DelRMinchew@house.virginia.gov, Randy@DelegateRandyMinchew.com
Dear Delegate Minchew:
As the President of the Potomac Appalachian Trail Club (PATC), a volunteer organization of some 7,500 members, I am writing to urge you to vote against House Bill 2165, entitled: Property Tax; exemptions for certain real property and nonprofit organizations in Frederick County. PATC received tax-exempt status under Senate Bill No. 924 § 58-12.19, which makes the PATC acquired property “…tax exempt as long as… [PATC is]…run on a nonprofit basis and as long as the property is used for charitable, benevolent, historical, public park and playground, or other exempt purposes.”
The properties in question equate to approximately 400 acres through the western edge of Frederick County in the northernmost part of the Shenandoah Valley. Included in this total is land that is the home of the
North American Wood Turtle, a Virginia threatened species. This is a species whose status is rated by the Virginia Department of Conservation and Recreation (DCR) as “Tier 1 – critical need” meaning unless steps
are taken to legally preserve its habitat, it will become extinct in Virginia.
Lands acquired by PATC in Virginia, are further protected from development by conservation easements requiring that the land be dedicated in perpetuity as open-spaces land under the Open-Space Land Act. In the case of Frederick County, the Virginia Outdoors Foundation (VOF) is the State agency, which holds the conservation easements on our Great North Mountain properties and will hold the easement on the property that is the habitat of North American Wood Turtle.
Because of the tax burden this bill would create on PATC, it would compel PATC to use much of its acquisition monies to pay for these taxes and deplete PATC's ability in the future to acquire any new lands for the public's benefit for the Great Eastern and Tuscarora Trails, rendering the completion of these trails corridors extremely doubtful. Furthermore, not having the funds to acquire land would mean PATC would not be able to carry out the goals of DCR's Virginia State Outdoors Plan, which is to make these two trails permanent long-distance trails for use by the hiking public.
PATC hopes you will understand our position that acquiring properties directly benefits the public in creating and maintaining these hiking trails. However, passage of the House Bill in question would gravely weaken PATC's financial capability in the future to purchase trail properties in Frederick County.
Sincerely,
Richard E Hostelley Sr.
President, Potomac Appalachian Trail Club
Delegate Randy Minchew, - DelRMinchew@house.virginia.gov, Randy@DelegateRandyMinchew.com
Dear Delegate Minchew:
As the President of the Potomac Appalachian Trail Club (PATC), a volunteer organization of some 7,500 members, I am writing to urge you to vote against House Bill 2165, entitled: Property Tax; exemptions for certain real property and nonprofit organizations in Frederick County. PATC received tax-exempt status under Senate Bill No. 924 § 58-12.19, which makes the PATC acquired property “…tax exempt as long as… [PATC is]…run on a nonprofit basis and as long as the property is used for charitable, benevolent, historical, public park and playground, or other exempt purposes.”
The properties in question equate to approximately 400 acres through the western edge of Frederick County in the northernmost part of the Shenandoah Valley. Included in this total is land that is the home of the
North American Wood Turtle, a Virginia threatened species. This is a species whose status is rated by the Virginia Department of Conservation and Recreation (DCR) as “Tier 1 – critical need” meaning unless steps
are taken to legally preserve its habitat, it will become extinct in Virginia.
Lands acquired by PATC in Virginia, are further protected from development by conservation easements requiring that the land be dedicated in perpetuity as open-spaces land under the Open-Space Land Act. In the case of Frederick County, the Virginia Outdoors Foundation (VOF) is the State agency, which holds the conservation easements on our Great North Mountain properties and will hold the easement on the property that is the habitat of North American Wood Turtle.
Because of the tax burden this bill would create on PATC, it would compel PATC to use much of its acquisition monies to pay for these taxes and deplete PATC's ability in the future to acquire any new lands for the public's benefit for the Great Eastern and Tuscarora Trails, rendering the completion of these trails corridors extremely doubtful. Furthermore, not having the funds to acquire land would mean PATC would not be able to carry out the goals of DCR's Virginia State Outdoors Plan, which is to make these two trails permanent long-distance trails for use by the hiking public.
PATC hopes you will understand our position that acquiring properties directly benefits the public in creating and maintaining these hiking trails. However, passage of the House Bill in question would gravely weaken PATC's financial capability in the future to purchase trail properties in Frederick County.
Sincerely,
Richard E Hostelley Sr.
President, Potomac Appalachian Trail Club
