The most current State of New Hampshire Current Use Criteria Booklet (April 1, 2010 to March 31, 2011) is available to be downloaded at www.NHDepartment of Revenue Administration- under Current use.

LOOKING FOR "OPEN SPACE" PHOTOS TO FEATURE IN OUR NEXT NEWSLETTER. Please send me them in pdf. format. Email donna@nhspace.org and please include your name so you will receive credit.

UPCOMING WORKSHOPS OF INTEREST:

If your town would like to host a current use workshop, please contact Donna Robie at 603-224-3306 or email to donna@nhspace.org. We ask that at least 10-20 people be in attendance, or else there will be a small fee for workshop.

CUB SCHEDULED MEETINGS FOR FALL 2010:

Dates and locations to be announced in our Summer Newsletter.

CURRENT USE RATES FOR 2010

Forestland w/Documented Stewardship

White pine w/ documented stewardship $ 97.00 to $146.00 per acre;

Hardwood w/documented stewardship $20.00 to $36.00 per acre;

All Other w/documented stewardship $43.00 to $64.00 per acre

Forestland Unmanaged

White pine unmanaged $ 138.00 to $207.00 per acre;

Hardwood unmanaged $55.00 to $82.00 per acre;

All Other unmanaged $76.00 to $114.00 per acre;

Farmland

Farmland ($25.00 to $425) less any SPI ratio supplied by owner

Wetland/Unproductive

Unproductive $ 20.00 *(represents an increase of $5.00)

Wetland $20.00 (represents an increase of $5.00)

HISTORY OF CU BOARD RATES 1975-2010

CLUB DAY AT Eastern Mountain Sports

APRIL 24, 2010- For a donation of just $10.00 to SPACE, you will receive a one-day pass of 20% off your total purchase

Once again, SPACE would like to thank Eastern Mountain Sports and their employees at the Concord, New Hampshire store for allowing SPACE to fundraise this this coming weekend (April 23-24, 2010). SPACE appreciates the opportunity to meet with the general public and answer all questions about the benefits of the current use program in New Hampshire.

LOOKING FOR ADVERTISERS :

SPACE publishes two annual newsletters and is always looking for advertisers to defray some of the cost of publication. Circulation is now over 35,000. Our paper costs have increased by 25% over the past year and any extra revenue we can generate by placing your ad (for a $200.00 fee per edition) would help tremendously.

The next edition is scheduled to be released in early June 2010.

BUSINESSES: Challenge to our Current-Use Business owners...

There are many business owners who own land in current use and we need your help this year. Many times it is overlooked that the land surrounding your existing business is placed in current use with a tax savings to your business until further growth or expanison. Won't you please consider sending SPACE a donation? Business donations are tax deductible, but as always, please check with your IRS professional.

Donations can be sent to:

SPACE- NH Current Use Coalition

54 Portsmouth Street

Concord, NH 03301

Donations $100.00 and Above will be posted on our new "100+ above Club" section on this website.

IS THERE AN INTEREST FOR YOUR BUSINESS TO SUPPLY A SERVICE OR ITEM FOR A POSSIBLE SPACE SILENT AUCTION? SPACE is always looking for new fundraising ideas to assist us in funding the protection of current use.

Please call Donna at 603-224-3306 if you have any questions regarding current use and/or if you'd like a calculation on how much having your land enrolled in current use saves you each year. With the economy in such turmoil, this program enables most landowners to retain their land.

LEGISLATION PROPOSED FOR 2010

SPACE is currently monitoring the proposed House/Senate bills and the challenges we all might face.

2010- HB-1250:

Clarifying that a quorum of the Current Use Board is not required to hold public forums

Sponsors: Reps. Patten, Pilotte, Schmidt and Senator Jaclyn Ciley

SPACE opposes this bill

2010- HB-1609

Relative to current use and the land use change tax

Sponsor: Rep. Derek Owen

1.) The bill changes the procedure for setting current use value of unproductive land;

SPACE supports part 1

2.) Clarifies that the land use change tax (LUCT) is not a property tax but is a change of use tax;

SPACE supports part 2

3.) Allows local assessing officials 5 years to discover that the land use change tax is due and payable if they receive no written notice; and

SPACE opposes the amended version as it appeared April 19,2010 which limited time to collect to 18 months.

4.) Clarifies current use taxation of condominium development areas. Note: this bill is a result of a CU Board subcommittee that reviewed both NH's current use law and administrative rules.

SPACE supports part 4.

2010- HB- 1689:

Exempting certain non-regulatory boards, commissions, councils, advisory committees, and task forces from repeal on June 20, 211.

Sponsors: Reps. Harding, Irwin and Senator Downing)

SPACE supports this bill

SB-400:

Relative to assessment of the land use change tax

Sponsors: Sen. DeVries, Reps. Theberge, Cooney, Patten

SPACE opposes this bill as it is contrary to the basis premise of NH's Current Use Law to "encourage the preservation of open space."

You can check out the status of any of these bills and other bills of interest currently before the NH Legislation.

www.nh.gov

State Legislation Dash Board

Find a Bill HB-1609 Find now!

SPACE 's new publication,"Understanding How Current Use Works in New Hampshire" should be available this fall.

This page was updated: April 21, 2010