forever green tn

Forever Green Tennessee

Here are the facts. You can learn more at our blog: http://forevergreentn.wordpress.com.

Overview: An addition to Tennessee’s Real Estate Transfer Tax was designated in 1986 to protect wetlands in Tennessee and in 1991 the tax was renewed and increased with passage of the “State and Local Parks and Recreation Partnership Act.” This created a dedicated fund (generated from the .08 cent tax on $100 of assessed value for realty transfers) to conserve land for parks, wildlife areas, greenways, cleaner water, and to preserve the natural beauty of Tennessee. These dedicated funds generated from the transfer of real estate make sense. As real estate is developed and new residents move to Tennessee, a small portion of the transfer tax is re-invested in protecting a Forever Green Tennessee. However, in 2003 and again in 2008, this “designated” fund was taken to help balance the State’s general budget. The legislation reinstates these designated funds in 2010, unless they are targeted and taken once again to balance the State’s budget. This is not why this tax was established and it is needed now more than ever. Our beautiful homeland is at risk and is worth this small investment.

The Need: We need the approximate $20 million each year to keep Tennessee forever green and beautiful. We need it to ensure a healthy environment and a healthy economy. Tourism is the second largest industry in Tennessee, employing 181,000 Tennesseans and contributing $13.4 billion to our economy and $1 billion in local and state tax revenues. The top tourist attractions in Tennessee are parks. It is short-sighted not to keep this program fueling our economic engine. This tax represents only .07% of our State’s $27 Billion budget. Tennessee is 7th worst in America for how quickly we are destroying forests and farms and chopping them up for roads and other development. We lose 80,000 acres each year! Shamefully, we are 50^th nationwide in environmental spending. These funds are needed to save incredible scenic attractions that are at risk! Rocky Fork, Bluffs at Scott’s Gulf, Cummins Falls, The Big Trees at Warner Parks, Mississippi River Bluffs, the Fiery Gizzard Trail, Segments of the Cumberland Trail, Rattlesnake Falls, Virgin Falls, Short Mountain, and more. We can’t sell our children’s future short by risking our greatest natural assets. Our quality of life, our water and wildlife, our future depends on these investments. Large tracts of land will never be more available than they are today. Raiding these funds is a step backward in terms of stewardship of our land and responsible budgeting. Please restore this funding in 2010!

The Funds: Four (4) funds are established from a dedicated .08 cent increase on the Real Estate Transfer Tax. Tennessee’s Real Estate Transfer Tax is .37 on $100 assessed value of property transferred. This .08 addition generates approximately $20 million. These funds, their dedicated purpose and approximate revenue per year are listed.

FUND NAME	USE	APPROXIMATE ANNUAL FUNDING
Wetlands Fund	.0325 (per $100) To acquire wetlands to benefit water quantity and quality and wildlife habitat.	$7.6 million
State Parks Acquisition Fund	.015 To acquire lands important to protect new state parks, natural areas, forests, historic sites, trails, and archeological sites and to protect existing parks by acquiring buffers and in-holdings.	$3.7 million
Local Parks and Recreation Fund	.0175 To acquire lands for parks, natural areas, greenways, trails, archaeological sites and for lands needed for recreation facilities. Requires 50% match from local governments.	$4 million
Agricultural Resources Conservation Fund	.015 To teach farmers and to provide funding to implement Best Management Practices to clean-up or prevent pollution of our creeks and rivers	$3.7 million

Successes of the Programs: These funds have leveraged investments from numerous sources including federal, city and county, non-governmental organizations, and private philanthropy. App. 240,000 acres have been acquired. These places make our communities more livable, more attractive to industry and tourism. These conservation projects make our environment healthier and our economy stronger.

Tennessee needs you! To get involved, or for more information, please contact Kathleen Williams, President and Executive Director, at 615-386-3171 or by email at tenngreen@earthlink.net.

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General Information about the Tennessee Legislature:

§ Governor Philip Bredesen

§ Link to the TN General Assembly website

Legislative contact information:

§ Where to search for your Tennessee State Senator

§ Where to search for your Tennessee State Representative

§ List of House Conservation and Environment Committee contact information

§ List of Senate Conservation and Environment Committee contact information

§ List of House leadership contact information

§ List of Senate leadership contact information

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