Monadnock Ledger-Transcript – Letter: Unfair Use in Progress

The Ledger Transcript republished an article from the Concord Monitor (“Land conservation becomes unfunded mandate, July 5) suggesting that land taxed under New Hampshire’s current use law has become an unfunded mandate.

Your reprint fails to mention that in the event of a disqualification of the current use, which typically occurs when the land is subdivided into lots of less than 10 acres or a portion of the property is developed and no longer qualifies, a land use change tax is due. The tax is 10% of the fair market value of the land. This typically generates enough additional tax revenue that the municipality can cover what the parcel would have paid.

The article quotes the Grafton County registrar of deeds, an elected official, who refers to “any wild card with more than 10 acres.” New Hampshire has thousands of landowners whose properties are registered in current use; I am one of them. I pay nearly $7,000 a year for my properties, which total about 100 acres and include my modest home, and are assets I have acquired through 50 years of hard work. And the timber I harvest from time to time is subject to an additional 10 percent tax on its value.

Please do not call me or the many owners of current use lands in the state “just some joker.” It is condescending, insulting and irresponsible for an elected official to do so. This Registrar, I am sure, has filed the official land use change tax forms and should be aware of the penalty paid by the landowner when his land is no longer eligible for taxation as undeveloped open space. Current use has been sound public policy for over 50 years. The Registrar’s suggestion that “I don’t pay taxes” is cavalier, ill-informed and completely unfounded. My canceled checks prove it every year!

Dennis D. McKenney

Bennington