Etlan reader supports PDRs

Editor:

I wanted to comment of the Sept. 25 Eagle article, “Will plan to protect land raise taxes?” The “plan” refers to a Purchase of Development Rights program, which provides cash incentives for landowners who wish to voluntarily restrict the development rights of their property.

The article states that once development rights are purchased “the land cannot be developed.” This is not true. Landowners may sell as many development rights as they can negotiate with a county. A PDR ordinance may include provisions that allow a limited amount of houses on land where the development rights have been sold.

The main focus of the article was Planning Commission Vice Chairman Pete Elliott’s contention that a PDR ordinance will raise taxes.

I looked at one neighboring county that has initiated a PDR program. Their program focuses on productive farmland that is directly contributing economically to the county. Through a combination of local private funding, rollback taxes (from land taken out of the land use program) and state matching funds, they were able to secure easements on more than 460 acres of land, all without any local tax money.

It is also worth noting that each acre of land placed in easement results in more state funding for schools, meaning lower local taxes.

The 2006 Madison County Comprehensive Plan (which Mr. Elliottvoted for) in two separate sections calls for county government to “Establish a county PDR ordinance.” One section also includes a provision calling on the county to “fund” a PDR program.

The article says that Elliott insists that programs such as this will make taxes so high that elderly people “will have to choose between paying for heat, paying for electricity or paying their taxes.”

We’ve seen far too much incendiary rhetoric and scare tactics in the recent election. I think we could do with a little more light and a lot less fire.
As mentioned, a PDR program can work even without any local tax dollars. But if a county does not have an ordinance in place they are not eligible to take private donations, grants, or apply for state matching funds.

There is available money out there to help encourage the preservation of Madison farmland. Why would we refuse to make use of it?

Robert Legge
Etlan