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Greenbelt Acres, the place to be tax free
By
Sue Carlton, Times columnist
In print: Wednesday, March 26, 2008
Hillsborough Elections Supervisor Buddy Johnson is making headlines again, this time not for office turmoil or mysteriously moved polling places or citizen petitions gone unvalidated. This time, we're talking cows. Not his own personal cows, mind you. As the Times' Jeff Testerman reported, Johnson bought a nearly 20-acre piece of land in Plant City last year, and though he dubbed it Oak Creek Estates and divvied it into six lots, says he has no intention of developing it. Instead, Johnson applied for a "greenbelt" tax exemption for agricultural property. If granted, it could slash the land's assessed value and reduce Johnson's tax bill from $12,626 to a mere $120. The agriculture? For about 20 bucks a year, Johnson rents his property to a guy who keeps 11 head of cattle grazing there — cows raised for exhibiting at Future Farmers of America show. Hillsborough's property appraiser has until July to decide if the cows on Johnson's land make for a true moneymaking agricultural operation worthy of the greenbelt designation and ensuing tax break. Meanwhile, the Republican Johnson faces a re-election campaign against former County Commissioner Phyllis Busansky as well as Lee Nelson, both Democrats. And, oh yeah, running that big election in November. So in the spirit of city and country, condo and farm, a theme song. With sincerest apologies to the late Eddie Albert and Eva Gabor, the city-slicker-turned-gentleman-farmer and his reluctant Park Avenue-loving wife, it's to the tune of the TV classic Green Acres. Our version has Johnson as Oliver Wendell Douglas and Bossie and Bessie, two singing cows, as accompaniment. (Feel free to throw in the Green Acres music — that duh-nut-da-nuh-nuh — as needed.) Ahem. Greenbelt Acres (Sung by Buddy Johnson:) Greenbelt Acres is the place to be Farm leasin' is the life for me Tax breaks spreadin' out so far and wide I want that exemption and I got nothin' to hide (Sung by Bossie the Cow in Eva Gabor voice:) How dare they call us Rent-A-Cows? Only a tax dodge would be such a louse! Farmer Buddy's got enough to do Not blowing an election—now that ain't just saying moo. (Back to Buddy:) From more than half-a-mil to just six grand That'd be the value of greenbelted land Not like I grew one tree and called it green I'll get in my pickup and drive it around the scene! (Bessie the Cow:) Darling, don't call me just a big cash cow If I must I'll go and pull a plow Don't tell the Dems this thing is looking dire Phyllis might put it right in her campaign flier! (Cows: ): The news! (Buddy:) The blues! (Cows:) Great deal! (Buddy: ) They're real! (Buddy:) Check out these cows! (Bossie:) We better add a few sows! (All together): Greenbelt Acres, we are there!
[Last modified: Mar 27, 2008 08:26 PM]
Comments on this article
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by Jesse
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Mar 27, 2008 8:26 PM
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Typical liberal trash. Govern for a few cases rather than the whole. Do away with the greenbelt and only the "wealthy" will be able to afford open land. You liberals wouldn't want that now would you??
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by Robert
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Mar 27, 2008 7:32 PM
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This law is set up to help those that own large tracts of land. If you want to do away with the Green Belt then be ready for all of these pieces to be subdivided. You anti growthers cannot have it all your way all the time!! It is a good program!!
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by Mark
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Mar 27, 2008 2:03 PM
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This is a transparent attempt by Johnson to avoid paying his fair share of taxes. We the regular people do, and he should too. Havent we had enough of self interested, personally entitled government leaders? What makes it worse is his incompetence.
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by Deb
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Mar 27, 2008 8:58 AM
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Anyone who owns agricultural property can do what he is doing. He's entitled to the same rights as any other land holder. Developers put cows on a property for greenbelt purposes until they're ready to build on it. If others do it, then why
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by David
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Mar 26, 2008 11:56 AM
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Funny and to the point. Lawmakers and governments are always exempting themselves from their own laws. If they don't have to suffer the impact of the rule, they will never understand the impact on the rest of us.
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by Betty
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Mar 26, 2008 11:54 AM
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Yes, I loved it too! Thanks for being one of the only reporters smart enough to not discount Lee Nelson. He'll be facing Buddy in the General and we need to have him beat this con artist!!!!
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by Mariella
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Mar 26, 2008 11:54 AM
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Now that our county commissioners have changed the EPC rules to allow an Agricultural Exemption to our wetland protection regulations, so-called "farmers" like Buddy can get out of paying taxes AND destroy wetlands, before they develop
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by Cheryl
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Mar 26, 2008 11:52 AM
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Great creativity while covering a timely and worthwhile story
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by Margaret
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Mar 26, 2008 9:35 AM
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Ms. Carlton, your Greenbelt column in today's paper was absolutely fantastic and my salute to the song writer. Is a great way to start the day with a happy,gleeful article such as yours. Thanks
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