Tracking the Effects of Conservation Easements on Property Tax Valuations

We establish a procedure to track the tax valuation history of properties that are fully or partially restricted with conservation easements to test the assertion that easements result in lower property valuations. Easements didn't decrease property valuations; they merely decreased the rate of value for the affected properties. On average, the restricted properties' valuations increased at a rate lower than did those for unrestricted properties - but not always, and certainly not uniformly. Valuation policy is specific to the local tax assessor: no sweeping assertions about easements and property taxes is warranted.