In a lengthy written opinion released on December 9, 2015 under the name Atkinson v. Commissioner, the U.S. Tax Court denied the federal tax deductions claimed for two conservation easements donated on an operating golf course in coastal North Carolina. Specifically, the Tax Court denied these tax deductions on the grounds that the two easements did not have a legitimate conservation purpose. Let’s take a closer look at why these two golf course conservation easements failed to qualify for special tax treatment. Continue reading Tax Court Denies Deductions for Golf Course Conservation Easements in Atkinson
North Carolina
Although this blog focuses primarily on land preservation in Virginia, North Carolina borders Virginia for a few hundred miles on the south, so it plays an important role in the lives of many Virginians. Read the following posts to learn more!
Governor Signs Bill Allowing Alternate Names for Buggs Island Lake
Virginia Governor Terry McAuliffe has now signed Senate Bill 972 into law, which allows state and local agencies to refer to Buggs Island Lake as “Kerr Lake” or the “John H. Kerr Reservoir.”
Legislation passed in 1952 required state and local agencies to refer to the reservoir only as “Buggs Island Lake,” which was declared to be the reservoir’s “true and proper name.” Congress had originally given it the name of “Buggs Island Reservoir” in 1944 but abruptly changed the name to the “John H. Kerr Reservoir” in 1951 to honor a North Carolina congressman, angering Virginia lawmakers at the time. The majority of Buggs Island Lake is located in Virginia. Continue reading Governor Signs Bill Allowing Alternate Names for Buggs Island Lake
Virginia House Votes to Allow Alternate Names for Buggs Island Lake
The Virginia House of Delegates voted today, February 13, 2015 to approve Senate Bill 972, which would allow state and local agencies to refer to Buggs Island Lake as “Kerr Lake” or the “John H. Kerr Reservoir.” Previous legislation required state and local agencies to refer to the reservoir only as “Buggs Island Lake.” Continue reading Virginia House Votes to Allow Alternate Names for Buggs Island Lake
Virginia Senate Votes to Allow Alternate Names for Buggs Island Lake
The Virginia Senate voted yesterday, January 21, 2015 to approve Senate Bill 972, which would allow state and local agencies to refer to Buggs Island Lake as “Kerr Lake” or the “John H. Kerr Reservoir.” Previous legislation required state and local agencies to refer to the reservoir only as “Buggs Island Lake.” Senate Bill 972 now goes to the Virginia House of Delegates, which must also vote to approve the bill. Continue reading Virginia Senate Votes to Allow Alternate Names for Buggs Island Lake
What Is This “Kerr Lake” of Which You Speak?
On Friday, January 16, 2015, a story ran on the Associated Press (AP) wire reporting that Virginia State Senator Frank M. Ruff, Jr. had introduced legislation to permit state agencies to refer to Buggs Island Lake as “Kerr Lake” or the “John H. Kerr Reservoir.” The story was quickly picked up by several regional news outlets, including the Richmond Times-Dispatch, WRAL TV-5 out of Raleigh, North Carolina, and WTOP 103.5 FM out of Washington, D.C. This legislation might seem somewhat random without knowing the historical background, so let’s delve into the sometimes controversial history behind the John H. Kerr Reservoir. Continue reading What Is This “Kerr Lake” of Which You Speak?