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State Representative Paul Anderson
100 Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd.
651-296-4317
For more information contact: House GOP Communications 651-296-5520
OP/ED COLUMN
Green Acres still a hot topic
By State Rep. Paul Anderson
A series of meetings pertaining to the Green Acres agricultural land program was held recently in Stearns County. I attended the gathering in Melrose Jan. 28 at which a nearly packed audience listened as county assessor Gary Grossinger and his staff did a good job of explaining changes made to the program that has become somewhat controversial.
Stearns County has been using Green Acres since 2002 in an effort to value agricultural land for that purpose instead of for another use, which in some cases could mean development or recreational usage, which would result in higher land values and, consequently, higher taxes. Major changes made to the law during the 2008 legislative session caused a great deal of uncertainty. Last year, after much debate, many of those changes were repealed, with one exception. That exception was maintaining a new land classification known as “2-b”, or “Rural Vacant Land”, which was basically said to be unproductive farm land.
One item clarified by Grossinger was that, throughout all these changes in the Green Acres Program, productive farmland was not affected. Only land deemed to be unproductive was subject to the changes made in the program. If “2-b” land is withdrawn from Green Acres by May 1st of this year, there will be no penalty for back taxes. If this land is left in the program, it will automatically be removed in 2013 and the three-year payback provision will apply.
A new program called the Rural Preserve Program is now available for those acres that no longer qualify for Green Acres. Although benefits will be much the same, several of the qualifications for the new program raised a few eyebrows among those in attendance at the meeting. Enrollment in the Rural Preserve Program will be for a minimum of ten years, with a five-year notice required to withdraw. A conservation plan will also be required for the land, and exactly who will be doing those plans and what the cost will be are not known at this time.
The 2010 legislative session opened Thursday, Feb. 4. Budget matters will again take center stage as we wrestle with a shortfall of over one billion dollars in the current biennium. A bonding bill will be among the first items taken up, with its size and scope still being negotiated. Uncertainty over the Governor’s unallotment last summer – in addition to the end of federal stimulus money after this year – make balancing the state budget even more difficult. Throw in the fact that, at last count, approximately 30 candidates were running for governor, including several key members of the Legislature, and the dynamics become really interesting. It should prove to be a very eventful session.
I attended a Career Day program at Melrose Feb. 3. It was a great way for all the high school juniors to hear about a varied array of career options. I spoke to a group of about 10 students who had an interest in politics and, during our conversation, asked how many of them had part-time jobs. To my surprise, every single one of them raised their hand and said that they had some kind of job, either after school or on weekends. It’s amazing how they can juggle schedules to fit in school and home work, along with sports and part-time jobs. Today’s younger generation truly is good at multi-tasking!
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Rep. Anderson encourages constituents to contact his office with input regarding any state legislative issue. He can be reached on the web at www.house.mn/13A and via email at rep.paul.anderson@house.mn. To contact Anderson by phone, call (651) 296-4317. Mail can be sent to Rep. Paul Anderson, 239 State Office Building, 100 Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd., St. Paul, Minnesota 55155.
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