HR A 1 © Copyright 2004 The Trust for Public Land.

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© Copyright 2004 The Trust for Public Land

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State Investments in Land ConservationAugust 10, 2009

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TPL’s Conservation Finance ProgramTPL’s Conservation Finance Program1. “Think tank” for financing conservation

• Leading source of research, education and policy information

2. Field services/Consulting• #1 provider of technical assistance

to state and local governments $32B created, 400+ ballot measures, 84% success rate

• #1 source of support for lobbying and ballot measure campaigns through TPL’s affiliate, The Conservation Campaign

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The Trust for Public Land: 83% of Measures PassedThe Trust for Public Land: 83% of Measures PassedThe Trust for Public Land: 83% of Measures PassedThe Trust for Public Land: 83% of Measures PassedYear # of Measures Wins Funds Approved

1996 27 26 $0.6 billion

1997 13 11 $0.2 billion

1998 34 30 $4.1 billion

1999 14 12 $0.9 billion

2000 71 55 $4.2 billion

2001 41 31 $0.5 billion

2002 61 47 $4.4 billion

2003 22 21 $0.9 billion

2004 52 45 $2.4 billion

2005 46 41 $0.8 billion

2006 49 41 $4.9 billion

2007 18 15 $0.6 billion

2008 57 44 $7.5 billion

Total 505 419 $32 billion

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www.landvote.org

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Where Does Public Funding for Land Where Does Public Funding for Land Conservation Come From?Conservation Come From?Where Does Public Funding for Land Where Does Public Funding for Land Conservation Come From?Conservation Come From?

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Public Land Conservation Funding in the United States (1998 – 2005)

Total Annual Avg. ShareLocal $16 billion $2 billion 67%State $6.75 billion $844m 28%Federal $1.02 billion $128m 4%Total $23.77 billion $2.97 billion

State and federal = actual spendingLocal = spending authorizations

Source: TPL Conservation Almanac, TPL LandVote Database

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Land Conservation Ballot Measures 1998 - 2008Land Conservation Ballot Measures 1998 - 2008

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Recent State Funding Efforts Recent State Funding Efforts Recent State Funding Efforts Recent State Funding Efforts State Date Measure Type Yes No Amount Hawaii 6-05 Legislative $ 72 millionConnecticut 7-05 Legislative $270 millionMaine 11-05 Referendum 65% 35% $ 12 millionCalifornia 11-06 Initiative 54% 46% $ 2.2 billionNew Jersey 11-07 Referendum 54% 46% $200 millionMaine 11-07 Referendum 63% 37% $ 17 millionFlorida 7-08 Legislative $ 3 billionMassachusetts 8-08 Legislative $ 250 millionColorado 11-08 Initiative 42% 58% $ 964 millionMinnesota 11-08 Referendum 56% 44% $ 5.5 billionOhio 11-08 Referendum 69% 31% $ 200 millionRhode Island 11-08 Referendum 68% 32% $ 2.5 millionIllinois 6-09 Legislative $25 million

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State Land Conservation Ballot Measures State Land Conservation Ballot Measures Summary of Funding SourcesSummary of Funding SourcesState Land Conservation Ballot Measures State Land Conservation Ballot Measures Summary of Funding SourcesSummary of Funding Sources

• 40 state ballot measures in 20 states from 1996 - 2008– 34 approved (85% approved)

• 8 measures in CA; 7 in RI, 2 in NJ, 2 in ME• 29 bond measures• 5 sales tax measures

– 6 failed• 2 bond measures• 1 “sugar” tax; 1 real estate transfer tax; 1 motor vehicle

excise tax; 1 “oil and gas” tax

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The State Role in Conservation Finance The State Role in Conservation Finance 1. The state is the playing field;

50 states, 50 diff. approaches

2. Key Factors:

• The State Policy Framework

• Political Leadership

• Broad-based public support

• Strong leadership by nonprofit conservation groups

• Good Agency- Nonprofit Relationships

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The Local Role in Conservation FinanceThe Local Role in Conservation FinanceThe Local Role in Conservation FinanceThe Local Role in Conservation Finance

• Local funding is the foundation of any long-term land conservation effort

• External funding – federal, state, private– can be an important, but secondary, means of completing a land conservation project

• Competition for external funding is fierce and may not be reliable due to ever-changing state and federal budget circumstances

• Local funding is essential to successfully competing for external funding

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The Federal Role in Conservation Finance The Federal Role in Conservation Finance

• Direct Acquisition:– Land and Water Conservation Fund

Offshore Drilling as Funding Source• National Parks, US Forest Service, US

Fish and Wildlife, • Grant Programs

– Forest Legacy– Farmland Protection Program– Endangered Species– Coastal and Estuarine Program

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The Federal Role in Conservation Finance The Federal Role in Conservation Finance

• Catalyst…holy grail… icing on the cake… or distraction?

• Very Competitive• One-time or occasional…

not regular source of funding• Strong political groundwork

often needed

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State Policy Framework: 7 Best Practices State Policy Framework: 7 Best Practices for State Land Conservation Policyfor State Land Conservation PolicyState Policy Framework: 7 Best Practices State Policy Framework: 7 Best Practices for State Land Conservation Policyfor State Land Conservation Policy

1. Substantial State Investment

2. Enable Local Financing

3. State Incentives for Local Conservation

4. Purchase of Development Rights

5. Public-Private Partnerships

6. Conservation Tax Credits

7. Federal Partnerships

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Substantial State InvestmentSubstantial State InvestmentSubstantial State InvestmentSubstantial State Investment• A stable state-sponsored revenue source is the

foundation of an effective land conservation program• Requires a funding source that is long-term and

fiscally prudent and ideally doesn’t fluctuate• Financing strategy should be dedicated to a variety of

land conservation projects identified by the state and communities

• General obligation bonds• Budget appropriations• Lottery proceeds • Property taxes• Real estate transfer taxes

• State sales taxes• Tipping fees• Severance taxes• Revenue bond

Examples

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Land Conservation Funding in Illinois (1998-2005)

Total Annual Avg. ShareLocal $1.4 billion $169 million 92%State $122 million $15 million 8%

State = actual spendingLocal = spending authorizations

Source: TPL Conservation Almanac, TPL LandVote Database

40 different local governments passed measures

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State Dollars Spent and Acres Protected State Dollars Spent and Acres Protected State Dollars Spent and Acres Protected State Dollars Spent and Acres Protected

State Dollars Acres Florida $2,138,877,535 983,868

North Carolina $723,896,809 444,398New Jersey $698,858,033 204,818

Pennsylvania $454,546,374 371,674Maryland $405,148,280 249,940New York $385,783,631 193,074

Massachusetts $282,798,436 140,834Ohio $275,526,419 72,009

Connecticut $266,574,662 65,969Delaware $204,374,534 80,406Virginia $189,746,708 239,898Georgia $163,470,548 68,212Alabama $61,604,202 104,661

Tennessee $60,085,004 42,783South Carolina $51,792,018 40,305

State Dollars Spent and Acres Protected 1998-2005

Illinois

$122m spent

27k acres

$4453 per acre

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State Dollars Spent and Acres ProtectedState Dollars Spent and Acres ProtectedState Dollars Spent and Acres ProtectedState Dollars Spent and Acres ProtectedState Dollars Acres Montana $45,548,241 358,851

Maine $40,293,584 117,717New Hampshire $39,948,752 385,877

Vermont $37,201,772 68,845Kentucky $33,735,625 34,118Louisiana $30,785,546 38,418

Rhode Island $26,257,273 10,407Oregon $25,469,490 41,452

Arkansas $23,966,049 29,299New Mexico $23,041,501 6,965

Iowa $16,844,650 23,972Hawaii $13,450,000 325Idaho $11,617,102 12,881

South Dakota $9,232,994 14,781West Virginia $8,378,518 41,002Mississippi $5,776,848 11,479

6,754,631,137$ 4,499,240

$1,501/acre

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State Dollars Spent Per Capita 1998 - 2005State Dollars Spent Per Capita 1998 - 2005State Dollars Spent Per Capita 1998 - 2005State Dollars Spent Per Capita 1998 - 2005

Name Population $ State $ Per Capita Delaware 843,524 $204,374,534 $242.29Florida 17,789,864 $3,558,900,441 $200.05North Carolina 8,683,242 $723,896,809 $83.37New Jersey 8,717,925 $698,858,033 $80.16Connecticut 3,510,297 $263,885,427 $75.17Maryland 5,600,388 $405,148,280 $72.34Vermont 623,050 $37,201,772 $59.71Massachusetts 6,398,743 $282,798,436 $44.20Montana 935,670 $38,548,241 $41.20Pennsylvania 12,429,616 $454,546,374 $36.57New Hampshire 1,309,940 $39,948,752 $30.50Maine 1,321,505 $40,293,584 $30.49Virginia 7,567,465 $189,746,708 $25.07Rhode Island 1,076,189 $26,257,273 $24.40Ohio 11,464,042 $275,526,419 $24.03

1998-2005 State Dollars Per Capita

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State Dollars Spent Per Capita 1998 - 2005State Dollars Spent Per Capita 1998 - 2005State Dollars Spent Per Capita 1998 - 2005State Dollars Spent Per Capita 1998 - 2005

State Population $ State $ Per Capita New York 19,254,630 $385,783,631 $20.04Georgia 9,072,576 $163,470,548 $18.02Alabama 4,557,808 $61,604,202 $13.52South Carolina 4,255,083 $51,792,018 $12.17New Mexico 1,928,384 $23,041,501 $11.95South Dakota 775,933 $9,232,994 $11.90Hawaii 1,275,194 $13,450,000 $10.55Tennessee 5,962,959 $60,085,004 $10.08Arkansas 2,779,154 $23,966,049 $8.62Idaho 1,429,096 $11,617,102 $8.13Kentucky 4,173,405 $33,145,796 $7.94Oregon 3,641,056 $25,469,490 $7.00Iowa 2,966,334 $16,844,650 $5.68West Virginia 1,816,856 $8,378,518 $4.61Louisiana 4,523,628 $19,657,931 $4.35Mississippi 2,921,088 $5,776,848 $1.98

IL = $9.50

34th rank

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State Funding MechanismsState Funding MechanismsState Funding MechanismsState Funding MechanismsConstitionally

Funding Source DedicatedIL RETT, Bonds No

OH Clean OH Bonds ($200m/4 yrs) YesMI Oil and Gas Trust Fund YesMO Sales Tax (1/8 c) YesWI Bonds NoIA Gaming and License Plate No

MN Sporting Goods Tax (3/8 c) Yes

PA Tipping Fee, RETT, Bonds NoNY RETT NoNJ Sales Tax ($98m/yr), Bonds Yes & NoCA Bonds NoNC Appropriations NoTX Sporting Goods Tax NoCO Lottery YesWA Appropriations No

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Minnesota: State FundingMinnesota: State Funding Minnesota: State FundingMinnesota: State Funding

• In 2008, voter-approved constitutional amendment dedicating 3/8ths of 1 percent sales tax– Tax will generate approx. $5.5

billion for conservation over 25 years

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General Obligation Bonds (Wisconsin)General Obligation Bonds (Wisconsin)General Obligation Bonds (Wisconsin)General Obligation Bonds (Wisconsin)

•1989: Legislature establishes Stewardship Program (Nelson-Knowles)•Authorized $250m in G.O. Bonds over 10 yrs.•Reauthorized in 1999 for 10 years at $46m/yr, later raised to $60m/yr (in 2002)

–$45m for land acquisition, $15m for improvements

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Oil and Gas Royalties (Michigan)Oil and Gas Royalties (Michigan)Oil and Gas Royalties (Michigan)Oil and Gas Royalties (Michigan)

• Michigan Natural Resources Trust Fund Act • Capped at $500m• In FY06, the fund received $57.4m in oil and gas

royalties• Approx. $25-$35M are spent each year (75%

acquisition, 25% development projects)

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Pennsylvania: State FundingPennsylvania: State Funding Pennsylvania: State FundingPennsylvania: State Funding• Cigarette Tax

– PA Easement Purchase Program

– Receives $20.485M annual allotment

• Real Estate Transfer Tax– 15% of revenue generated by tax is allocated to

Keystone Fund for land acquisition

– Expected to generate $95 million for conservation in 2009

• Tipping Fee – Signed into law in 2002

– $4.25/ton municipal waste disposal fee

– generated $80 million in 2006

– Set to expire in 2012

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Sales Tax (New Jersey)Sales Tax (New Jersey)Sales Tax (New Jersey)Sales Tax (New Jersey)

• Green Acres and Farmland Preservation Programs

• $98M/yr existing sales tax dedication

• $3 billion over 30 years• Passed by voters in 1998

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Sporting Goods Sales Tax (Texas)Sporting Goods Sales Tax (Texas)Sporting Goods Sales Tax (Texas)Sporting Goods Sales Tax (Texas)

• Allocates share of existing tax revenues estimated to come from sporting goods to TX Parks and Wildlife Dept (TPWD) – Est. 1993

• Pre 2007 – capped at $32m/year• Cap lifted in 2007;

– FY08: $229m estimated revenue; $112m appropriated to TPWD, balance retained in General Fund

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General Appropriations (Washington)General Appropriations (Washington)General Appropriations (Washington)General Appropriations (Washington)

•Washington Wildlife and Recreation Program (WWRP)

–Supports wildlife habitat, state and local parks, working lands, trails

•Legislature appropriates funding for WWRP in biennial capital budget•$452m approved over 17 years; $50m/biennium in recent years

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Lottery Funds (Colorado)Lottery Funds (Colorado)Lottery Funds (Colorado)Lottery Funds (Colorado)

• Great Outdoors Colorado (GOCO)• In FY06, $125.6M was generated through lottery funds• 50% is allocated to GOCO, but is capped at $35M• 40% is allocated for local conservation efforts• 10% is allocated to Colorado’s Division of Parks and

Outdoor Recreation

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Deed Recording Surcharge (Massachusetts)Deed Recording Surcharge (Massachusetts)Deed Recording Surcharge (Massachusetts)Deed Recording Surcharge (Massachusetts)

• Community Preservation Trust Fund • $20 for deeds, $10 for municipal liens• Generated between $20m and $75m to provide

matching funds to communities who adopt the Community Preservation Act (CPA)

• To date, 144 of 351 communities have adopted CPA

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Land Preservation Tax Credits (Virginia)Land Preservation Tax Credits (Virginia)Land Preservation Tax Credits (Virginia)Land Preservation Tax Credits (Virginia)

• Program capped at $100m/yr • Credit is 40% of the fair market value of the

land donation• Between 2000 and 2005 there were $380M in

tax credit requests and $134M approved

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Documentary Stamp Tax (Florida)Documentary Stamp Tax (Florida)Documentary Stamp Tax (Florida)Documentary Stamp Tax (Florida)

• Florida Forever (FF) Program• 70¢ tax on deeds and 35¢ tax on notes

generates approx. $4 billion/yr• $300M/yr is dedicated for FF• Bonds issued by legislature backed by

Doc. Stamp Tax

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Water Supplier Fees (Rhode Island)Water Supplier Fees (Rhode Island)Water Supplier Fees (Rhode Island)Water Supplier Fees (Rhode Island)

• Public Drinking Water Protection Act• 2.92¢ per 100 gallons water supplier

levy generates about $9M/yr• 1.054¢ is deposited into the

Watershed Protection Fund for watershed protection and water quality projects.

• This “penny per hundred” is about $3.6M/yr and used to support revenue bonds

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Water Resource Restoration Sponsor Water Resource Restoration Sponsor Program (Ohio)Program (Ohio)Water Resource Restoration Sponsor Water Resource Restoration Sponsor Program (Ohio)Program (Ohio)• Funds from the federal Clean Water State Revolving Fund • Combines wastewater treatment and water source restoration projects• Communities enter into an agreement with a conservation partner (land trust) • Communities borrow money to facilitate the restoration project and receive a

reduced interest rate

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HR A 1 © Copyright 2004 The Trust for Public Land.

Documents

public land slide

state land conservation

public funding

local conservation

conservation campaign

state role

state ballot measures

state incentives