Call the Governor!

August 4, 2008

Join CRWA to urge Governor Patrick to sign the Environmental Bond and Land Conservation Tax Incentives into law.

Monday, August 4th, is call-in day to the governor!

The Environmental Bond, which provides the capital funding for the Commonwealth’s land conservation programs, contains a significant incentive for private land protection – the Land Conservation Tax Incentives Act. 

Click here to read a Boston Globe editorial on Conservation Tax Incentives, which appeared August 4, 2008.

• What would the conservation tax incentive do? Be a catalyst for conservation and make conservation more competitive with development.  It is an incentive to encourage private land owners to donate certified conservation land to non-profits,the state or a municipality; it will help land rich/cash poor citizens, by giving them a compelling option to protect our natural heritage as opposed to giving up their land for development.  It will also provide capital to farmers and foresters, as agricultural and forestry land may be certified. Click here for more information on the conservation incentive.
  
• What is the status of the conservation incentive?  Before the Governor as an outside section of the Environmental Bond – the bond provides a minimum of $50M per year for state land protection programs.  The tax incentive is a complement to state land protection programs.

Take Action!  Call the Governor, tell the staff member who picks up that you thank him for his commitment to land protection, and are asking him to sign the environmental bond (House Bill 5054) into law with the conservation tax incentive (Section 8 of House Bill 5054)  included!

Governor Patrick’s telephone number is 617-725-4005.  Please do your best to call on Monday, August 4, 2008.  If you aren't able to call Monday, then call Tuesday!

Thank you for your support.