VNRC's Recommendations for Strengthening the Current Use Program in 2008

April 2008

The Current Use Program is one of Vermont’s most important programs for keeping rural land intact. Landowners who enroll in the program enter into an agreement with the state to prohibit develop on their property as long as the land is enrolled in the program. In return, landowners pay their property taxes based upon a “use value, ” which is lower than fair market value. This financial incentive helps landowners hold onto working farm and forestlands.

It is imperative to promote and further the original goals of the current use program. (Read more about the program, and its goals, here.) This program has proven to be one of the best strategies Vermont has employed to protect farms and forests.

There are three specific ways VNRC hopes the state will consider to improve the current use program that would not compromise the essence or purpose of the program. They are:

Increase enrollment in the program. The current use program is widely seen as having brought innumerable benefits to Vermont. Sixty-five percent of eligible farmland is enrolled. Less than half of the state’s eligible forestland, however, is enrolled. Adding enrollment — particularly of forest land — would make the program even more successful. To do this, the Legislature should not only continue to fully fund the program, but the state should also increase its support to ensure that it is adequately staffed. The Legislature should also continue to reimburse municipalities so that local tax rates are not influenced by enrollment in the program.

Expand opportunities for the enrollment of wetlands, buffer areas near waterways, and important ecological areas. Landowners should be able to enroll, and should not be required to harvest, in riparian buffer areas, wetlands, vernal pools or important ecological areas. Foresters should be given more flexibility to manage ecological areas and productive forestlands based on professional judgment and appropriate standards that recognize the value of ecological areas, ecosystem services and their contribution to forest health.

Streamline the administration of the program. Improvements should be made to electronic filing and record keeping to make the program easier to manage. In addition adjustments should be made to make the program more efficient for listers, county foresters, and other personnel.