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State Representative Tim Faust
100 Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd.
651-296-0518
For more information contact: Michael Howard 651-296-8873
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HOUSE PASSES GREEN ACRES SOLUTION
ST. PAUL – The Minnesota House of Representatives passed legislation on Monday to restore tax fairness for Minnesota landowners of both agricultural property and non-agricultural property enrolled in the Green Acres program. The reforms were included with federal tax conformity changes which allow all Minnesota taxpayers to take advantage of tax changes made at the federal level since the 2008 session adjourned. Rep. Tim Faust said months of public input and testimony led to the Green Acres solution.
“I have spent months talking with hundreds of farmers and landowners in our district that were affected by the changes to Green Acres and I am confident our efforts have addressed their concerns," said Faust, who authored a bill carrying many of the provisions included in the final solution. “This is a bipartisan solution which maintains our commitment to Minnesota farmers and landowners.”
The Green Acres solution, which passed by a vote of 130 to 3, include a full repeal of the changes made last session until 2013 for all landowners with non-agricultural land. The reforms also created a new classification for non-agricultural land called “Rural Preservation” in order to provide landowners a pathway to enroll non-agricultural land in a program that would secure the same property tax classification. Faust said he preferred a House proposal that made it slightly easier for these landowners to maintain their property tax classification, but was supportive of the compromise that brought this solution to its final passage.
“If you currently have agricultural land enrolled in Green Acres that wasn’t affected by the changes made last session, you stay in the program, just like you always have been,” said Faust. “Our reforms this year ensure the landowners with valuable non-agricultural land can maintain that same kind of classification.”
The Green Acres reforms also allow landowners to withdraw non-conforming land from Green Acres penalty-free until 2010 and transfer all or part of the land to any family member with no back taxes. In addition, the reforms further clarify how the Green Acres program should be administered to promote more fairness and uniform implementation.
“We’re fixing the elements of the Green Acres program that our farmers were concerned about and actually improving the program in some areas,” said Faust. “That is why I believe this solution has such broad support.”
Both the Minnesota Farmers Union and Minnesota Farmers Bureau supported the Green Acres solution passed today.
Rep. Faust encouraged all farmers and landowners with land enrolled in Green Acres, especially those affected by the changes made last session, to contact him with questions about how the Green Acres reforms passed today will affect them.
“I want to make sure you know how these reforms will affect you,” said Faust. “Please call, e-mail or write me with your specific questions.”
Rep. Faust can be reached by phone at (651) 296-0518, by e-mail at rep.tim.faust@house.mn, or by mail at 567 State Office Building, St. Paul, MN 55155.
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