Vermont’s Current Use Program is one of those rare pieces of legislation that garners high praise from both the left and right side of the political spectrum. Established in 1980 as a way of keeping agricultural and forest land in active production, the program taxes property on it’s current use (i.e. timber and crops), instead of on its development potential. Today, more than 1.5 million acres of land are enrolled in the program – about 45 percent of the eligible land in the state.
Last year, the legislature amended the program’s eligibility standards. As a result, landowners may now enroll land for more than just timber production. Under these revised rules, riparian zones, natural communities of statewide significance, and archeological sites can be enrolled and exempt from active timber management. Several other conditions fall under this new umbrella as well. These non-timber sites can not constitute more than 20% of the total land enrolled.
The Department of Forests, Parks, and Recreation is hosting a public informational meeting on these new statutory changes at Green Hall at Vermont Technical College in Randolph, July 8, from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. This would be a good opportunity for landowners to learn about the new eligibility options, and ask any questions they might have about the new program guidelines.