South Carolina land conservation Bank

[Highstrung]

Have we decided to not discuss it here? It's been over a day since it's been in the state paper.

[Calibogue]

Fuk it..... What a mess!

[jws]

http://www.thestate.com/news/local/a...179675821.html

[marsh chicken]

I'm shocked that any sort of wrong doing goes on within a state agency such as this. And I am even more shocked that this program might cater to well connected wealthy individuals using citizens tax dollars. Who would have thought...

[BOGSTER]

[Calibogue]

I'm shocked that any sort of wrong doing goes on within a state agency such as this. And I am even more shocked that this program might cater to well connected wealthy individuals using citizens tax dollars. Who would have thought...

Out of curiosity since you are pointing fingers will you please enlighten us on how they determine what properties received funding and what don't?

[duckman88]

Out of curiosity since you are pointing fingers will you please enlighten us on how they determine what properties received funding and what don't?

I'm not MC, but I'm going to go with, fancy land/plantation owner wants a tax break. So they 'help out' or 'pledge to help out' their representative. Then by some wild coincidence, their application for CE through the conservation bank (or via third party through the bank) gets approved, and wham bam thank you mam they get their tax break.

This is how politics work right?

[duckman88]

The conservation bank, as previously said, was set up by rich people to help rich people for the 'common good.' We peasants get the collateral benefit of knowing that South Carolina's most critical habit areas (big grey area) are safe forever. Basically, we get to 'feel good' about where our tax dollars are going.

[Calibogue]

So in your opinion to place a conservation easement on your property you have to number one be rich and greedy correct? And two it won't happen unless you know the right people is that a fair understanding of your opinion?

[Timsmith]

Besides my regular job, I'm a property manager for 400 acres of wetlands bank and 1500 acres of conservation and adding 3400 acres next month. The property owner is very wealthy and it's not easy to get either bank. Every federal and state official has to come look, walk , survey and scratch his nuts. The tax benefits are good on purchasing a 5 million dollar tract of land, but their is a lot of BS and paperwork to get a wetland/Conservation bank.

[DUCKMAN]

Without the private landowners, conservation organizations and the Land Conservation bank , duck hunting in SC would be only a thought of years gone by! With the revenue from the state duck stamp program, we raise less than 100 thousand dollars that is earmarked for waterfowl at the SCDNR. Many repairs from Matthew over a year ago have not even begun and then come Irma which has been a disaster from Charleston south to the state line. This is a very critical time to be cutting any funds that would benefit waterfowl in SC! There is no such thing as a free lunch!!!!!!

[jws]

So some of you are defending this guys actions?

[Calibogue]

I am not defending or accusing anyone of anything! I am merely asking opinions of how the funding of conservation easements in South Carolina or handled or better yet how purchased conservation easements are funded?

[Calibogue]

I have heard and read a lot of complaining on the site over the years especially about where they can and cannot hunt anymore because of development. And now here we are talking about the protection of private land so that you can continue to hunt fish recreat grow crops and harvest game or trees and it just doesn't add up...

[duckman88]

So in your opinion to place a conservation easement on your property you have to number one be rich and greedy correct? And two it won't happen unless you know the right people is that a fair understanding of your opinion?

No not at all. I know for a fact that any landowner can apply for and most likely get a CE placed on their property (through the bank or another land trust) as long as they can justify it under one of the four conservation purposes.

But lets be honest, the VAST majority of people applying for and getting CE's put in place own very large properties and are very wealthy, and one of, if not the main reason many of the landowners do so is for the tax benefit. To be able to answer your second question, I would love to see (although know I never will) the list of properties/property owners who applied through the conservation bank versus who was approved and received funding/approval for a CE.

[duckman88]

I have heard and read a lot of complaining on the site over the years especially about where they can and cannot hunt anymore because of development. And now here we are talking about the protection of private land so that you can continue to hunt fish recreat grow crops and harvest game or trees and it just doesn't add up...

So, as I said earlier, we peasants should just shut up and be thankful for the crumbs that fall off the table? While it was our money that was spent to make the bread?

[Calibogue]

It doesn't matter whether someone is rich or otherwise! The bottom line is they sign the dotted line to protect their property from development in perpetuity! You are right though most people would not do that if there were not incentives thankfully there have been and a lot of South Carolina will remain forever rural!

[jws]

I am not defending or accusing anyone of anything! I am merely asking opinions of how the funding of conservation easements in South Carolina or handled or better yet how purchased conservation easements are funded?

I'm going to take a wild stab in the dark here and assume you are benefiting from these dollars. Not mishandling 3 million tax payer dollars would be a good start in how conservation easements are funded. This guy should do time but he wont. Same old shit with the power plant.

[Calibogue]

Like I said I'm not defending anyone as I don't know that all the details on what transpired other than what you have read.
And yes, my family chose years ago to protect some property through a conservation easement but we received nothing for it other than tax incentives.
And furthermore if you own land and care about keeping South Carolina rural I would encourage you to look into conservation easements as well.

[duckman88]

It doesn't matter whether someone is rich or otherwise! The bottom line is they sign the dotted line to protect their property from development in perpetuity! You are right though most people would not do that if there were not incentives thankfully there have been and a lot of South Carolina will remain forever rural!

I agree, its a great tool for conservation of land. I just believe that it is disproportionally favorable to and utilized by wealthy landowners. I think it is also disproportionally marketed to these large, wealthy landowners.