State and Local Reporter - 02/06/2003 (Plain Text Version)

Debora Trimpe, Chair
Flower Mound, Texas

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In this issue:
State & Local Reporter Gets New Look
Budget Challenges Are Legislatures' Top Priority
Legislatures Consider Notice and Right to Cure Bills
Berks County Teams with State, National Associations to Score Victories
Outstanding Officials and Programs Honored at SLGA Awards Breakfast
Builders, Counties Partner to Promote Common Interests
Industry News
Join the NAHB State and Local Government Affairs Listserv
Job Posting in North Carolina

Berks County Teams with State, National Associations to Score Victories

The Berks County Home Builders Association, a small local association located in Reading, Pennsylvania, was hit with two major challenges in 2002: a proposed 25% increase in Amity Township’s earned income tax, and a county comprehensive plan that would have limited developable land status to only 15,000 acres.

Although noteworthy, Berks County’s challenges are not unique. The rise of national anti-growth groups in local politics has tested many local associations struggling to protect their members’ interests. In many cases, the ability of local associations to single-handedly fight back against these resource-rich groups is impossible.

However, the Berks County HBA teamed with its state association and NAHB to defeat the proposed tax increase and to successfully amend the proposed comprehensive plan.

Builders Beat Back Tax Increase
In March of 2002 a group of anti-growth activists backed by the Nature Conservancy worked with the Amity Township Council to increase the township’s earned income tax from 1% to 1.25%. Proceeds from the tax increase would have been used to purchase land and development rights for “farmland preservation,” but the measure’s real intent was to stop growth.

The 25% tax increase was forced to referendum vote on the May 2002 Primary Election Ballot. The Berks County HBA quickly realized the consequences that the referendum could impose on both area residents and builders.

Initially, the local association did not have the resources to put together a campaign to defeat the referendum, nor did it know how much such a campaign would cost. But with assistance from NAHB's ballot management team and a $5,000 grant from the State & Local Issues Fund, the association put together a strong plan to communicate the proposal's negative impacts to the township. The campaign strategy included phone calls to targeted likely voters and two direct mail pieces.

Township voters heard the association’s message, and 65% of them voted against the referendum.

Local Association Improves Comprehensive Plan
After the Planning Commission released its proposed Comprehensive Plan, the local association was forced to fight another anti-growth battle. Included in the plan was a proposal to limit the amount of developable land to only 15,000 acres – not nearly enough to accommodate the county’s projected growth.

With the assistance of NAHB’s land development experts, the association conducted a rigorous critical review of the proposed plan. With this information in hand, the association met with the county planning director to emphasize the plan’s shortcomings. The association then armed itself with facts from the NAHB Economic Impact Model (developed by NAHB’s Housing Policy Department) to make a forceful presentation at the plan’s final public hearing.

The association’s advocacy efforts paid off. The Planning Commission substantially amended the plan to address every builder concern pointed out during the hearings. Most notably, the commission agreed to revise the amount of developable land included in the plan from 15,000 acres to over 60,000 acres.

While the plan is subject to public hearing before it is adopted, the association’s work has made the current version acceptable to builders.

Challenges on the Rise
The growth challenges faced by Berks County HBA in 2002 are becoming increasingly common, and experience, issue expertise and money are critical to protecting the industry.

As builders around the country fight similar challenges , it is both important and reassuring to know that there are resources at all levels – local, state, and national – that can be quickly mobilized to counter anti-growth proposals.

Ron Rohrbach, executive officer of the Berks County HBA, explains: “Understanding and being able to fight the challenges that your association faces is the battle. Knowing where to find the resources to successfully fight the challenges makes the battle winnable.”

For more information on Berks County’s challenges, call Ron Rohrbach at 619-777-8889. For more information about NAHB's resources and services to help counter anti-growth proposals, contact Ashley Geyer at 800-368-5242 x8126.