What is Current Use and
the Land Use Change Tax (LUCT)?:

CURRENT USE is a program that reduces the property tax assessment on larger parcels of VACANT LAND.

It was established in 1973 as a way to help control the loss of open land.

It is a form of Opwn Space Conservation because it enables landowners to keep their land open rather than being forced to sell it because of high property taxes.

The Land Use Change Tax (LUCT) is assessed if and when a landowner changes his or her mind and sells that land for development.

It is a one-time tax that is paid by THE DEVELOPER

From the 2024 (last year's) Deliberative Session

Why place LUCT revenue in the Conservation Fund?

When a parcel of Current Use land is sold for development, the town is losing a piece of open land.

The State legislature realized this, and therefore provided towns with the option to deposit some or all of the Land Use Change Tax in the town's Conservation Fund.

The Conservation Fund is used to conserve other open land, thus offsetting, in part, the loss of the land that was developed.

The Land Use Change Tax is Atkinson's ONLY SOURCE OF MUNICIPAL FUNDING for future land conservation.

Whenever possible, the Conservation Commission uses money from the Conservation Fund as leverage when applying for conservation grants.

More from the 2024 (last year's) Deliberative Session

Are there other facts to consider?

Land that is in Current Use is NOT A BURDIN on other taxpayers!

Although the owner of Current Use land is getting a substantial property tax break on that land, it costs the Town NOTHING to provide services to open land.

Therefore, the property tax revenues received crom Current Use land goes right to our bottom line, and is REVENUE POSITIVE for the Town.

A part of last year's Public Hearing: