New York State Policy Program
The Land Trust Alliance's New York State Policy Program strives to advance policies at the state level that support the common efforts and conservation goals of New York's land trust community. With the assistance of the New York Advisory Board, the Land Trust Alliance works to build relationships with key partners in Albany, broadening political support for state level conservation initiatives ensuring that NY's 90 land trusts have a consistent, steady voice at the state capitol. Land Trust Alliance and our partners also work to maintain funding for land trusts through the New York State Conservation Partnership Program, which is supported by the Environmental Protection Fund (EPF) and administered by the Land Trust Alliance in coordination with the State Department of Environmental Conservation.
What's New
Rebuilding the Environmental Protection Fund
At the end of March, the Legislature approved a Fiscal Year 2013-2014 state budget that included $153 million for the Environmental Protection Fund. Thanks to dogged advocacy by land trusts and other EPF advocates across the state, the budget includes a $19 million increase in the Fund, including $20 million for state land acquisitions and $13 million for farmland protection. Read the official press release.
Please check the EPF coalition website for additional details, updates and more: http://keepprotectingny.com/.
Your outreach on behalf of the EPF has been effective and it is hugely appreciated – Thank You!
New York Policy Archive
Environmental Protection Fund (EPF)
Environmental Protection Fund Overview (From the Friends of New York's Environmental coalition)
Video: Legislative Report with NY Senator Mark Grisanti:
January 19, 2011: (Albany Times Union) Loggers, tree-huggers unite: Timber interests join greens in support of more money in Environmental Protection Fund
November 3, 2010: Groups Congratulate Gov-Elect Cuomo, Send 1st Green Assignment: Rebuild NY's Environmental Agencies & Restore Funding
November 2010: Friends of NY's Environment Letter to Governor Elect Cuomo
October 30, 2010: Cuomo Announces Comprehensive Agenda to Address the Long Term Needs of New York State's Environment
Farmland Protection
November 2010: New York Farm and Food Alliance Letter to Governor Elect Andrew Cuomo
October 2010: Bet on the Farm: Farmland Protection as a Strategy for Economic Growth and Renewal (Office of the State Comptroller--OSC)
September 2010: New York State Association of Counties (NYSAC) Blue Ribbon Task Force on the Future of Farming in New York State
February 2010 Report, The Role of Agriculture in the New York State Economy (OSC)
Economic Benefits of Land Conservation
March 2010 Open Space Benefits Report and Press Release (OSC)
2010: The Economic Benefits and Fiscal Impact of Parks and Open Space in Nassau and Suffolk Counties, New York (A Report by the Trust for Public Land)
Conservation: An Investment That Pays, 2009 (Trust for Public Land)
Tax Incentives for Land Conservation
In 2006, the Land Trust Alliance, with the support of the New York Advisory Board and land trust leaders across the state, was successful in getting New York State to enact the Conservation Easment Tax Credit. This innovative credit enables taxpayers whose land is restricted by a conservation easement to apply for an annual New York State income tax credit of up to 25% of the school district, county, and town real estate taxes paid on the restricted land, up to an annual maximum of $5,000 per taxpayer. Both New York State residents and non-residents may be eligible to claim the tax credit. All conservation easements must be registered with teh New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) in order to claim the credit.
Guides
Forms
The New York State Department of Taxation and Finance has posted the taxpayer forms and instructions for the Conservation Easement Tax Credit on its website.
Individual Taxpayers (2010 Forms)
Form IT-242 | Instructions for Form IT-242
Non-Residents and Part-Year Residents (2010 Forms)
Form IT-203 | Instructions for Form IT-203
Corporations (2010 Forms)
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