Alabama:Proposed bill would 'shut down' Forever Wild, conservation commissioner says

Alabama's popular Forever Wild land conservation program could be required to reimburse state and county governments for an estimated $3.6 million in lost property taxes -- plus $500,000 every year going forward -- under a proposed measure in the Alabama Legislature. The bill, HB 502, would require Forever Wild to "reimburse the amount of any ad valorem tax revenue lost as a result of property previously subject to ad valorem tax being acquired by the Forever Wild Land Trust."Gunter Guy, Commissioner of the Alabama Department of Conservation and Natural Resources, said he estimates Forever Wild would have to pay approximately $500,000 each year on lands the program has already purchased, plus a significant back taxes bill."The measure also requires a one-time retroactive reimbursement related to tax years prior to enactment," Guy said in an email. "We estimate the total amount of ad valorem taxes associated with acreage dating back to creation of the program to be approximately $3.6 million. "DCNR is opposed to HB 502 and believes that it would negatively impact the Forever Wild Land Trust by creating a perpetual financial burden that will ultimately deplete funding for future acquisitions and shut down the program."