Rural Preserves Property Tax Program

Owners of rural land that is not used mainly for agricultural production may be eligible for a reduced tax rate through the Rural Preserves Property Tax Program, formerly known as "Green Acres."

The program will be eligible beginning with the 2011 assessment.

Soil and Water Conservation Districts have a new role in approving conservation plans for land being considered for future enrollment in the program. Guidelines for these conservation plans have been developed by BWSR and SWCD representatives.

Landowners with property currently enrolled in the Green Acres program, that must come out of the program due to land classifications, have the opportunity to enroll in 3 other programs.

A Comparison for Property Tax Programs is available. Please click here to view information on the 4 programs.

Pine County Soil & Water Conservation District

Rural Preserves Property Tax Program (RPPTP)

Conservation Management Plan (CMP)

Development, Review & Approval Recommendations

Approved RPPTP Planner Criteria

Anyone interested in writing Conservation Management Plans (CMP) in Pine County to meet the requirements of the Rural Preserves Property Tax Program (RPPTP) must first meet the following requirements and be approved by the Pine SWCD Board of Supervisors prior to writing a RPPTP Conservation Management Plan in Pine County.

Following are the minimum criteria CMP writers will need to demonstrate they meet:

• post secondary degree in natural resource field such as: natural resource management, forestry, soils, or other related field determined adequate by the SWCD;

or

• certified plan writer under an existing program such as a Certified Stewardship Plan writer, as approved by the MN Forest Stewardship Committee, a MN Tree Farm Inspector certified by the Society of American Foresters or a Technical Service Provider registered as a Certified Conservation Planner with the Natural Resource Conservation Service.  All of these will be reviewed by the SWCD Board of Supervisors to assure the certification type matches the resource type the plan will cover;

and

• At least two years professional experience in the natural resource field.

• Submission of a brief resume to the Pine SWCD outlining these qualifications.

• CMP planner approval is subject to revocation by the SWCD board based upon quality of plans and plan acceptance rate.

SWCD staff, individually specified by the SWCD board, is also able to write Conservation Management Plans.

Establish fees associated with plan approval.

·     Pine SWCD will charge participants $150, plus $1.00/acre enrolled in the Rural Preserves Program. This fee is charged to cover the cost to meet with landowner, provide a site visit which is mandatory with each plan written, write plan, and review with landowner.

·        $50 per plan for SWCD Rural Preserves Committee to approve plans.

Establish timeline required for approval.  (Keep in mind that the annual deadline of May 1st for landowner to present completed plan and recorded covenant to County Assessor)

·        To be determined after May 1^st 2010.   

there are 3 other programs for people that must come out of green acres program due to land classifications. (inactivity of "ag" status)

The Minnesota Department of Revenue has produced a fact sheet with guidance on eligibility and how to apply:

www.taxes.state.mn.us/taxes/property/index.shtml

Questions or problems regarding this web site should be directed to Pine County SWCD.
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Last modified: 02/26/10.