Tax Deduction for Wildland Fire Mitigation Stalls in Senate Appropriations Committee

 

House Bill 08-1110, Concerning an Income Tax Deduction For a Landowner's Direct Costs Incurred in Performing Wildfire Mitigation Measures (Rep. Witwer, Sen. Kopp) was heard by Senate Appropriations Committee on Friday, March 14, 2008.  The bill was pulled from consideration on a 5-5 tie vote.

 

HB-1110 would offer a state income tax deduction of 50 percent of a homeowner’s costs in performing up to $2,500 of wildfire mitigation or a tax deduction totaling the property owner’s federal taxable income, whichever is less.  The wildland mitigation measures must be performed on private land in a wildland-urban interface area with a community wildfire protection plan.

 

Sen. Mike Kopp, R-Littleton, the bill’s sponsor, testified that the Federal Emergency Management Agency calculates that “for every dollar we spend on mitigation we save four on firefighting costs”.

 

Sen. Moe Keller, D-Wheat Ridge, said the bill would add unnecessary cost to the state.  “Certainly it’s a worthy effort, but I am very concerned about reduced revenues we have coming,” Keller said.

 

Rep. Rob Witwer, R-Golden, House sponsor of the measure is troubled by the near party line vote on a bill he said “shouldn't be a partisan issue.”  Witwer said “I realize that we can't stop wildfires from happening, but at the same time the state really can and should do more.” 

 

Speaking for Sen. Kopp, Witwer went on to say that “this is a central issue for the foothills communities we represent.  We've tried to stay focused on the facts and highlight the risk, but it's a tough sell with some folks.”

 

Voting for the bill were Senators Brophy, Harvey, Johnson, Kopp (sponsor), and Romer.  Voting against it were Senators Tapia, Veiga, Windels, Keller, and Morse. Someone will have to change their vote for the bill to move forward.

 

Posted 03-16-08