WVFA eNews Weekly

The fix of the Managed Timberland property tax rule is a correction to a complex problem that was never an attempt by the forest products industry to manipulate the calculation of the tax for lower taxes - it's simply a correction for the method of calculation back to what was intended originally. As a result of this correction, some counties will have increases in managed timberland taxes and others will have declines. But, to now stabilize county revenues, no managed timberland tax can decline more than 20% in one year from the previous year. There are approximately 2 million acres of 12 million forested WV acres that are affected.

Since early 2013, when WVFA members began to receive their annual property tax invoices, our members have been working to correct the Managed Timberland Tax calculation. During what many call the Great Recession, as WV land prices declined, Managed Timberland taxes increased. This is a reverse of how the tax is supposed to work; i.e., it's tied directly to values of managed timberland - the appraised value for tax purposes. So, as values decline, taxes should likewise decline and vise versa.

To address this problem, WVFA raised funds from our members to fund work by a WVU economist. That economist found that the state Department of Taxation was mixing nominal and real values in the same calculation: The nominal rate is the reported percentage rate without taking inflation into account. The real rate takes inflation into account (Real Rate = Nominal Rate – Inflation Rate). In additional findings, it was discovered that the Tax Office was using non-statutory minimum assessed-values for each property class, below which values could not fall.

Visit https://www.naylornetwork.com/wvf-nwl/articles/?aid=368450&issueID=47326 to view the full article online.

Each year, the West Virginia Forestry Association's "Logger of the Year" (LOY) Committee reviews applications, visits logging sites and chooses a state Logger of the Year. The nominations form is attached. We expect a very good year for nominations because we have already begun to receive some nominations.

Visit http://www.naylornetwork.com/wvf-nwl/pdf/2016.LOY_Nom_Form.pdf to view the full article online.

April 1, 2016 – Rupert Community Center, Rupert, WV
April 14, 2016 – WVU-P, Workforce & Community Education, WCE Building, Parkersburg, WV

4.5 CFE Credits - Category 2

Visit https://www.naylornetwork.com/wvf-nwl/articles/?aid=368462&issueID=47326 to view the full article online.

Morgantown—Tuesday, April 12, 2016; 10:00 am to 1:00 pm
Summersville—Thursday, April 14, 2016; 10:00 am to 1:00 pm

2.0 CFE Credits - Category 1

Come to find out more about the American Tree Farm System!
Join us for an informative seminar and free lunch.

Presentations include:
* Bats, hogs and dogs: Important wildlife issues for WV woodland owners
Dr. Sheldon Owen
WVU Wildlife Extension Specialist
* Forest management—It’s for the birds!
Kyle Aldinger
WV Cerulean Warbler Partnership Coordinator
* Update on American chestnut in WV
Dr. Brian Perkins
Associate Professor of Forestry, Glenville State College

Please RSVP to WVFA at 304-372-1955 or WVFA@WVFA.org

Visit https://www.naylornetwork.com/wvf-nwl/articles/?aid=368458&issueID=47326 to view the full article online.

This is the script for the radio ads: "HELPING EDUCATE WEST VIRGINIA’S NEXT GENERATION. THE WEST VIRGINIA TREE FARM PROGRAM’S PLITT SCHOLARSHIP WILL HELP THE CHILD OR GRANDCHILD OF A WEST VIRGINIA TREE FARMER ATTEND THE ACADEMIC INSTITUTION OF THEIR CHOICE. AN ESSAY IS REQUIRED, AND THE APPLICATION MUST BE SUBMITTED TO THE WEST VIRGINIA FORESTRY ASSOCIATION BY MAY 15. CALL THE WEST VIRGINIA FORESTRY ASSOCIATION FOR MORE INFORMATION ABOUT THE TREE FARM SCHOLARSHIP. 304-372-1955. 304-372-1955. THE WEST VIRGINIA FORESTRY ASSOCIATION!"

Visit http://www.naylornetwork.com/wvf-nwl/pdf/2016.TF_Scholarship_Appli.pdf to view the full article online.