Preserving open land is vital to rural communities that rely on groundwater. Excess development increases the demand for water and, at the same time, prevents recharge of the aquifers because of runoff caused by impervious surfaces.

Wildlands Conservancy will host a Tax Incentive Workshop at Palmerton’s Borough Hall, 443 Delaware Avenue, in Carbon County on Wednesday, June 6, 2007 from 7-9 p.m. Interested landowners are welcome to attend and receive the latest information on time-limited incentives available to landowners who preserve their property in 2007.

Speakers: The lead speaker at the workshop is Attorney Michael Henry of Gross, McGinley, and LaBarre and Eaton. Attorney Henry specializes in local, state and federal taxation, tax and estate planning, and real estate law. Diane Matthews-Gehringer, Land Preservation Manager for Wildlands Conservancy, will also speak to attendees about preservation options. The workshop is funded in part by the Pennsylvania Department of Conservation and Natural Resources.

In 2006, Congress added tax incentives for landowners choosing to permanently preserve their land. Among these changes are provisions raising the income tax deduction allowed a landowner for donating a conservation easement from 30% of their adjusted gross income in the year of the donation plus 5 more years, to 50% in the year of the donation plus 15 more years. It also allows qualifying farmers, ranchers and forest landowners to deduct up to 100% of their taxable income (e.g., pay no federal income tax) for the year of the donation plus 15 more years. These added incentives are available until the end of 2007.

Registration: To register for the workshop or for more information about the workshops of Wildlands Conservancy, please contact Debra Lermitte at (610) 965-4397, ext. 11.

Read full story HERE