Karcher and American Gothic

So, state Sen. Ellen Karcher, D-Monmouth, is a farmer in her spare time. According to a story in today's Press, she and family grow and sell Christmas trees on their property in Marlboro, generating an estimated $500 and $1,000 a year in income - income that until recently Karcher hadn't reported on her legislative disclosure form. Coincidentally, in order to qualify for a farmland assessment - one that reportedly saves Karcher about $14,000 annually in property taxes on the 7-plus acres of land - you must sell at least $500 annually in farm products.
According to Karcher's farmland assessment application with Marlboro, she sold about six Christmas trees and two to six cords of firewood. We hope she's kept copies of the sales receipts. She will need them when officials investigating her assessment come knocking on her door.
Strong arguments can be made for farmland assessment. Karcher's abuse of it argues for a critical examination of the tax break.