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Home My WebLink AboutCOM 0620.055 2002-2004 NOTES RE. BILL 270 COUNTY COUNCIL 6-2-04 Cory Harden Preserving land is vitally important to our economy and well-being. IYs not clear whether the Trust for Public Land approach is the best way to preserve land. But I think at this point the bill should be kept alive for further consideration. Dr. Holschuh took the time to outline several concerns about the bill. He is concerned that the 2°h is a tax, and that mandated spending will lead to budget deficits. But the Trust for Public Land says their proposal will bring in money. They say it will leverage Federal funds. They also say open space increases property values, which brings in more taxes. According to their website: Land adjacent to a greenbelt was worth about $1200 more per acre than land only 1000 feet away in Oregon. A 3-mile greenbelt added $43 million to surrounding property values in California. A developer who donated a 50-ft wide 7-mile long easement along a popular trail sold 50 parcels bordering the trail in only 4 months in Virginia. Homes bordering a trail sold for 6°.6 more than comparable homes elsewhere in Washington 5°h of the selling price of homes near an arboretum and park was attributable to the proximity of open space in Ohio. The Trust for Public Land also says open space attracts businesses. Again from their website: Owners of small companies ranked recreation/ parks/ open space as the highest priority in choosing a new location for their business. Two companies relocating in North Carolina cited greenways as decisive factors in their location decision. A 1998 real estate industry report said "If people want to live in a place, companies, stores, hotels, and apartments will follow. Also open soacea can help control flooding which saves the expense of drainage improvements and flood control projects. Dr. Holschuh discusses using bonds to buy land. But with bonds, can the County move faster than private parties? Dr. Holschuh proposes a task force, which may be the way to go. But we don't want to take too long, or lose sight of our goal, since our open space is disappearing rapidly. I brought some information that may be helpful...... Please keep Bill 270 alive for further consideration. Comm. No. •SS Ref. To: Laea Ref. Uate Ohio State University Fact Sheet Community Development 700 Ackerman Road, Columbus, OH 43202-1578 Land Trusts CDFS-1282-98 Land Use Series Peggy Schear Thomas W. Blaine What are land trusts? Land trusts are local, regional, statewide or national organizations that are established to protect land and its resources. They may also be referred to as conservancies, foundations, or associations. Their main purpose is to protect land that has natural, recreational, scenic, historic, or productive value. They are the fastest growing arm of the conservation movement today, with approximately 1,200 established, and 50 new ones being formed every year in the United States. How are land trusts different from other conservation or preservation organizations? Their primary difference is their direct involvement in land transactions. They initiate, implement, and monitor land protection devices for individual pieces of property or for larger land areas, depending on the trust's specific goals. Sometimes their land protection efforts are combined with other conservation organizations, but their major objective is the preservation of the land itself so that it may continue to be a resource for future generations. Land trusts often are formed to protect particular land related resources: forests, farmland, open space, wetlands, or historic districts. How do land trusts protect land? There are several land protection tools available for land trusts to use including: conservation easements (see OSU Extension Fact Sheet Conservation Easements, CDFS 1261-98), acquisition of land through direct purchase or bargain sale, land donation, life estate plans, and limited development strategies. Some land trusts own land outright and are responsible for its preservation and management, while others own no land, but are primarily involved in monitoring easement restrictions. Land trusts also provide technical assistance to landowners deliberating land preservation options as well as planning and educational services for local wmmunities and the general public. As of 1998, land trusts nationwide had helped to protect a total of roughly 4.5 million acres of land. How are land trusts organized? Typically, a land trust is organized as a private, nonprofit, incorporated organization. This enables the land trust to hold titles to real estate and to accept charitable donations. In some states, public agencies perform a similar function as private land trusts, but state laws must be structured to allow public agencies to hold conservation easements. The comparison of private to public organizations in the land preservation field indicates that there are advantages and disadvantages to each. The private, nonprofit land trust has the advantages of prompt response time, fewer regulatory/statutory restraints, confidentiality, atax exempt status, and professional stewardship services. The advantages of the public agency include less time and papervvork to get the organization started, and a greater likelihood that it will continue to exist to serve its function in perpetuity. Some states with publicly-supported land preservation programs require that both a private, nonprofit land trust and a public local or state agency hold conservation easements to provide maximum protection for preservation strategies. Land Trust Standards and Practices from Land Trust Alliance webpage for details see http:/Mnvw.lta.org/sp/ Part 1 Standard 1: Puruose and Goals Aland trust must have a clear purpose and goals. Standard 2: Board Aeeountability The board of directors must assume legal responsibility and accountability for the affairs of the organization. Standard 3: CorMlict of Interest The board must take care that directors, officers, and staff avoid conflicts of interest. Standard 4: Basic Legal Reguiroments A land trust must understand and fulfill its basic legal requirements as a nonprofit taxrexempt organization. Standard 5: Fundraising A land trust must conduct fundraising activities in an ethical and responsible manner. Standard 6: Financial and Asset ManagemerN The board of directors must be absolutely certain that the land trust manages ffs finances and assets in a thoroughly responsible and accountable way. Standard 7: Stall. Consultants. and Volunteers A land trust must have help-from volunteers, consu/tents, and in many cases paid staff-with appropriate skills and in sufficient numbers to carry out its programs. Standard S: Selecting Proiects A land trust must be selective in choosing land-saving projects. Standard 9: Choosing the Best Conservation Method A land trust must select the best available method for protecting each property. Standard 10: Examining the Progsrtv A land trust must know the property it protects. Standard 11: Ensuring Sound Transactions Aland trust must ensure that every transaction is legally and technically sound, and take steps to avoid future legal problems. Standard 12: Tax BeneAts A land trust must try to assure that landowners who plan to claim a federal tax deduction for a charitable giR or bargain sale of real property interests are informed about re/evaM Internal Revenue Code requirements and IRS regulations, and that they obtain their own legal and tax advice regarcling the gilt's deductibility. Standard 13: Board Aggroval of Transactions The board is responsible for every land transaction. Standard 14: Conservation Easement Stewardship Aland trust must carry out a program of responsible stewardship for its easements. Standard 15: Land Stewardship A land trust must carry out a program of responsible stewardship for its land. .a_-_. ___--.-o _ CHARITY NAVIGATOR ~'i`x`°"ndi°°"°~" ~~,<;r ~ -ce ~ ;,s~s;i~nt ~!r~irc The Trust for Public Land Conserving land for people San Francisco, CA 94105 RATINGS CHARTS OVERALL RATING: (*8 * COMPARISON BY CAUSE: ORGANIZATIONAL EFFICIENCY 0 Fundraising Efficiency $0.04 Fundraising Expenses 2.7% Program Expenses 86.3% 40 Administration Expenses 11.0% 0 EFFICIENCY RATING: • (38.63) 7D 1p ORGANIZATIONAL CAPACITY Ett. CsP. Ovrtrall Primary Revenue Growth -5.6% Pro ram Expenses Growth 12,9% ~rangr ai:mres ncauze 9 ¦ average :com : n cause Working Capital Ratio (years) 1.06 ? rhro cnacty • CAPACITY RATING: (20.00) PEER ANALYSIS Overall Overall REVENUE/EXPENSES TREND: Charity Name Score Rating The Trust for Public Land 58.63 < • Save-the-Redwoods League 67.09 •<•< Jackson Hole Land Trust 67.29 Peninsula Ocen SoaceTrost 69.24 ~ VennontLand Trust 63.61 i INCOME STATEMENT: FYE 03/2003 i Revenue Primary Revenue $97,927,896 O_ [her R_e_venue $4,915,486 'ce Ot Total Revenue: 5302,843,382 ~ pnmary r?vrnvc EXpensef ~ program c•uenses Fundraising Ex ep nses $3,228,551 Program Expenses $101,534,373 ' Administraation Expenses $12,931,164 CEO PAY FYE 03/2003 Total Functional Expenses: ;117,694,088 William 8. Rogers President, Director Pakments_to_Affiliates $0 Compensation: $223,292 Exce_ss_~or DeticitZfor the Year $-14,850,706 http://www. charitynavigator.org/index.cfin/bay/search. summary/orgid/45... 6/1 /2004 4 stars is best rating Fundraising efficiency amount spent to raise $1 (lower is generally better) Fundraisino expenses percent of total functional expenses spent on fundraising (lower is better) Program expenses percent of total functional expenses spent on programs and services (higher is better) Administration expenses percent of total functional expenses spent on management/ general (lower is better) Primary Revenue Growth measures growth of grants and contributions, revenue generated ftom programs and services, membership fees and dues over the past 3 to 5 fiscal years Program Expenses Growth Measures growth of program expenses over the past 3 to 5 fiscal years Working Caotial Ratio determines how long (in years) a charity could sustain its level of spending using only its net liquid assets