Wisconsin Fly Fishing Forums - Knowles Nelson Support

HEK Dragon Fly Offline We don't rent pigs. Posts: 5558 Waukesha County, Wisconsin Gender:	Re: KNowles Nelson Support Reply #15 - Jul 8^th, 2021 at 1:42pm It's not as much or as long as we were asking for, but it's a nice extension and I'm happy that it was achieved. Thanks to everyone who called, wrote, or e-mailed. It mattered, and thank you thank you thank you.
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GerardH

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Re: KNowles Nelson Support
Reply #16 - Jul 8^th, 2021 at 2:55pm

HEK wrote on Jul 8^th, 2021 at 1:42pm:

It's not as much or as long as we were asking for, but it's a nice extension and I'm happy that it was achieved. Thanks to everyone who called, wrote, or e-mailed. It mattered, and thank you thank you thank you.

It's my understanding that conservation easement money was cut, which obviously affects the DNR's ability to obtain public fishing easements and subsequently do HI work if needed. But still better than the proposed reduced funding...

And yes, thank you to those who petitioned their representatives.

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Further North

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Re: KNowles Nelson Support
Reply #17 - Jul 12^th, 2021 at 5:07pm

E-Mail I received today:

Quote:

Hello Geoff,

Thank you for contacting me and sharing your thoughts about the Knowles-Nelson Stewardship Program. As your state senator, I appreciate hearing from my constituents as they express their views on matters that are important to them.

Protecting and preserving the environment while providing affordable recreational areas for Wisconsin families is very important to me. The Stewardship Program has played an important role for our state by doing both of those things in the past.
You will be pleased to know, that The Joint Finance Committee (JFC) reauthorized the Knowles Nelson Stewardship program for another four years for $32 million, and the Governor signed the budget on July 8th, 2021.
Again, thank you for contacting me on this important issue. If you have any questions or concerns about state-related issues in the future, please do not hesitate to contact me.

Kathy Bernier
Wisconsin State Senator
Senate District 23

Which reads to me like, "I didn't really support this, but I'll take this opportunity to try to make it look like I did.

My reply:

Quote:

Senator Bernier,

Thank you for the courtesy of a reply, I appreciate it! I know that I, and many other outdoor activity oriented voters were happy to hear that the funding was re-authorized for another four years. In a state like Wisconsin, with so many voters devoted to outdoor recreational pursuits, it is critical that our legislative branch support us.

A am curious about one thing: It is my understanding that, in a year with a huge projected budget surplus, the money available for easements was cut from $9MM to $6MM. Can you, or someone on your staff, take a moment to explain how that was allowed to happen?

It seems the kind of action that is hard to defend among those of us who may have have supported you over the years.

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« Last Edit: Jul 13^th, 2021 at 8:08pm by Further North »

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HEK

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Re: Knowles Nelson Support
Reply #18 - Jul 14^th, 2021 at 10:23am

The shame about cutting easements is that they are the best bang for the buck.

When the State acquires land, it has to make a payment to the local municipality called a payment in lieu of taxes (or PILT). This basically makes up for the property coming off of the tax roles, and the local tax authority losing that revenue. That's in addition to the purchase price. So a direct land purchase is a hit to both the State coffers, and a hit to the local tax authority.

In addition, the land is now owned by the State, and is no longer in private hands (which is an issue for some).

Finally, the State now has management responsibilities for land which it owns (which creates overhead, and additional costs).

With easements, none of those occur. There is no PILT, the land stays in private hands, and the State has either no or minimal maintenance responsibilities and costs.

Easements are really where stewardship funding -- especially for trout angling -- gets put to the best use in my opinion.

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"The only way they can take away from all of us what we’ve got here is if we quit.

So, I’m standing here telling you that I’m not gonna’ quit, and they’re not gonna’ take this away."

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JGF

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Re: Knowles Nelson Support
Reply #19 - Jul 14^th, 2021 at 11:13am

HEK wrote on Jul 14^th, 2021 at 10:23am:

With easements, none of those occur. There is no PILT, the land stays in private hands, and the State has either no or minimal maintenance responsibilities and costs.

Thanks for the insights - quick question, landowners still pay property taxes but are taxes affected at all by the easement?

Quote:

Easements are really where stewardship funding -- especially for trout angling -- gets put to the best use in my opinion.

I am a big fan of easements but the permanent protection of some rare and unique places paid for by stewardship funding is pretty awesome.

https://gatheringwaters.org/sites/default/files/Stories_of_Stewardship.pdf?_sm_a...

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GerardH

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Re: Knowles Nelson Support
Reply #20 - Jul 14^th, 2021 at 12:24pm

HEK wrote on Jul 14^th, 2021 at 10:23am:

The shame about cutting easements is that they are the best bang for the buck.

When the State acquires land, it has to make a payment to the local municipality called a payment in lieu of taxes (or PILT). This basically makes up for the property coming off of the tax roles, and the local tax authority losing that revenue. That's in addition to the purchase price. So a direct land purchase is a hit to both the State coffers, and a hit to the local tax authority.

In addition, the land is now owned by the State, and is no longer in private hands (which is an issue for some).

Finally, the State now has management responsibilities for land which it owns (which creates overhead, and additional costs).

With easements, none of those occur. There is no PILT, the land stays in private hands, and the State has either no or minimal maintenance responsibilities and costs.

Easements are really where stewardship funding -- especially for trout angling -- gets put to the best use in my opinion.

If all I did was trout fish, I'd agree with your sentiment.

As I get older and other outdoor activities fall by the wayside, I will probably be more lockstep with you.

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...because mercifully there are no telephones on trout waters; because only in the woods can I find solitude without loneliness; because bourbon out of an old tin cup always tastes better out there...

-John Voelker (Robert Traver )

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HEK

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Re: Knowles Nelson Support
Reply #21 - Jul 14^th, 2021 at 1:00pm

JGF wrote on Jul 14^th, 2021 at 11:13am:

HEK wrote on Jul 14^th, 2021 at 10:23am:

With easements, none of those occur. There is no PILT, the land stays in private hands, and the State has either no or minimal maintenance responsibilities and costs.

Thanks for the insights - quick question, landowners still pay property taxes but are taxes affected at all by the easement?

Quote:

Easements are really where stewardship funding -- especially for trout angling -- gets put to the best use in my opinion.

I am a big fan of easements but the permanent protection of some rare and unique places paid for by stewardship funding is pretty awesome.

https://gatheringwaters.org/sites/default/files/Stories_of_Stewardship.pdf?_sm_a...

As to the first question, landowners still pay taxes. I guess they could go and try to get their assessment reduced because they have given up some rights, but I have never heard of it happening (doesn't it mean it hasn't -- I just don't know about it).

As to the second I agree. There is a time and place for everything. From a practical standpoint, though, we just get a lot of mileage (pardon the pun) out of streambank access easements when it comes to trout fishing.

I'm not opposed to acquisition of land when it is the right land.

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"The only way they can take away from all of us what we’ve got here is if we quit.

So, I’m standing here telling you that I’m not gonna’ quit, and they’re not gonna’ take this away."

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HEK

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Re: Knowles Nelson Support
Reply #22 - Jul 14^th, 2021 at 1:04pm

GerardH wrote on Jul 14^th, 2021 at 12:24pm:

HEK wrote on Jul 14^th, 2021 at 10:23am:

The shame about cutting easements is that they are the best bang for the buck.

When the State acquires land, it has to make a payment to the local municipality called a payment in lieu of taxes (or PILT). This basically makes up for the property coming off of the tax roles, and the local tax authority losing that revenue. That's in addition to the purchase price. So a direct land purchase is a hit to both the State coffers, and a hit to the local tax authority.

In addition, the land is now owned by the State, and is no longer in private hands (which is an issue for some).

Finally, the State now has management responsibilities for land which it owns (which creates overhead, and additional costs).

With easements, none of those occur. There is no PILT, the land stays in private hands, and the State has either no or minimal maintenance responsibilities and costs.

Easements are really where stewardship funding -- especially for trout angling -- gets put to the best use in my opinion.

If all I did was trout fish, I'd agree with your sentiment.

As I get older and other outdoor activities fall by the wayside, I will probably be more lockstep with you.

Well, I don't oppose the acquisition of land when, as I said above, it's the right land. I guess my only point above -- just so that I'm clear -- is that from a trout angling perspective (which is the group I obviously strive to work for) we really like the easement vehicle because it is an "everybody plays, everybody wins" type proposition that both sides of the aisle can get behind.

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"The only way they can take away from all of us what we’ve got here is if we quit.

So, I’m standing here telling you that I’m not gonna’ quit, and they’re not gonna’ take this away."

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Jizzy Pearl

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Re: Knowles Nelson Support
Reply #23 - Jul 14^th, 2021 at 2:48pm

HEK wrote on Jul 14^th, 2021 at 1:00pm:

JGF wrote on Jul 14^th, 2021 at 11:13am:

HEK wrote on Jul 14^th, 2021 at 10:23am:

With easements, none of those occur. There is no PILT, the land stays in private hands, and the State has either no or minimal maintenance responsibilities and costs.

Thanks for the insights - quick question, landowners still pay property taxes but are taxes affected at all by the easement?

Quote:

Easements are really where stewardship funding -- especially for trout angling -- gets put to the best use in my opinion.

I am a big fan of easements but the permanent protection of some rare and unique places paid for by stewardship funding is pretty awesome.

https://gatheringwaters.org/sites/default/files/Stories_of_Stewardship.pdf?_sm_a...

As to the first question, landowners still pay taxes. I guess they could go and try to get their assessment reduced because they have given up some rights, but I have never heard of it happening (doesn't it mean it hasn't -- I just don't know about it).

As to the second I agree. There is a time and place for everything. From a practical standpoint, though, we just get a lot of mileage (pardon the pun) out of streambank access easements when it comes to trout fishing.

I'm not opposed to acquisition of land when it is the right land.

If I remember correctly...

A landowner can apply for a one time tax-deductible charitable donation for a conservation easement and property taxes remain the same.

If a landowner puts their property into MFL then annual property taxes are reduced.

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