August 17, 2009

Starting in 2010 and thereafter, the Hampshire  and Hardy County Assessors will apply the Farm Use Valuation real estate tax rate to all properties in Hampshire and Hardy Counties with a permanent conservation easement attached to their deeds. The Farm Use Valuation is the lowest real estate valuation rate provided in West Virginia. This is a permanent real estate tax rate adjustment. No future application or verification will be needed by you, or by a new landowner, even if your land is sold of gifted. I have registered your protected parcel with the Assessor. You should not need to do anything else.

If your property is already taxed as a farm, you will not see a reduction in your real estate tax rate. If your property is not a farm and you are registered for Managed Timberland Valuation, you will see a minor decrease in your tax rate. All other landowners whose property is protected by a permanent conservation easement agreement should see a dramatic real estate tax rate decrease. 

If your present real estate valuation is not farm use, and you do not see a decrease in your real estate tax assessment on your protected land in 2010, contact your County Assessor before the end of January 2011 so the mistake can be corrected. If you have questions, don’t hesitate to contact me at (304) 856-1010.

As always, it’s a pleasure to work with you! The Trust’s Board and I deeply appreciate your commitment to a better future for our natural resources and for this Valley. We will continue to provide you with the best service we can to support the permanent protection of our special places throughout the Lost/Cacapon River Valley. Please tell your neighbors who have not protected their land about this potentially enormous real eastate tax benefit and about the wildlife benefits of protecting connected parcels!

Sincerely,

Nancy Ailes, Executive Director