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AJC.com > Legislature > Blog > Archives > 2006 > March > 01 > Entry
DEL.ICIO.USGreenspace tax credit headed to governor’s desk
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Gov. Sonny Perdue’s proposal to offer an income tax credit to property owners who agree to donate their land for greenspace gained final Legislative approval Wednesday.
The state Senate approved the land conservation bill by a vote of 49-0. The House gave the bill unanimous support by a vote of 156-0 two weeks ago.
“This is a great initiative,� said Sen. Casey Cagle (R-Gainesville), who carried the bill in the Senate. “This is an initiative that will preserve land for future generations here in Georgia.�
He added: “We need to make sure we set aside greenspace, and have various vehicles to do that.�
House Bill 1107, sponsored by state Rep. Jay Roberts (R-Ocilla), would allow a landowner to claim a credit against the tax liability up to 25 percent of the land’s value. The cap would be $250,000 for individuals and $500,000 for corporations.
The bill is the second part of Perdue’s initiative to save Georgia’s disappearing landscapes —- from fragile wetlands to Civil War battlefields.
The Georgia Land Conservation Act - the first bill to make it through the General Assembly last year - bundles $100 million in federal, state and private funds to entice farmers, timberland owners and other large landowners to permanently protect from development their pastures, forests and other undeveloped land.
Some of the money could also be used to buy land for state parks and hunting areas. That measure – along with this year’s income tax credit – won support from many environmental and conservation groups.
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