Bill Fosher

Current use taxation is crucial to protecting New Hampshire's working landscape of farms and forests, as well as its critical wetlands and other special habitats. This bill would place an undue burden on landowners and municipalities by imposing complex, confusing, and in some cases contradictory requirements for landowners to participate in this program. The public benefit of open space far outweighs the loss of tax revenue -- pine trees, sweet corn, and cows don't enroll children in the schools, call the fire department, or demand other local services. This is a net positive for the tax rolls, the environment, and our quality of life. I urge you to vote this bill inexpedient to legislate.