While the nation watches the tumult in Washington and on the stock exchanges, historic preservationists are also wondering what the next few years will hold for the field.
So far, the approved fiscal 2025 federal funding that funnels down to the State Historic Preservation Offices nationwide has not been released. So, six months into the year, many SHPO’s are struggling to pay their staff; at least one has already been forced to make layoffs. How and if this will affect us in Louisiana has yet to be seen, but a strong SHPO, as we all know, is imperative to supporting historic preservation projects statewide, including tax credit projects and projects that receive federal grant funding for their high significance.
The administration’s proposed new budget recommends eliminating the Historic Preservation Fund altogether, which would be devastating for SHPO’s and preservation projects nationwide.
One of those projects is this very magazine — which, since 1988, has received grant funding from the Louisiana SHPO that is imperative to our ability to continue publishing.
We are so grateful for this longstanding partnership and hope to see federal funding renewed. If it isn’t, so many organizations, developers and government employees will be negatively affected; those negative effects will trickle down into the health of our historic neighborhoods and communities as preservation projects are put on hold or canceled entirely.
Simultaneously, in more optimistic news, lobbyists on Capitol Hill see the possibility of improving the federal historic tax credit in coming months, which is a thrilling prospect.
According to the National Trust for Historic Preservation, the value of the historic tax credit has diminished by about 25 percent since 2010, in large part because the credit is spread out over a five-year delivery period. Advocates are encouraging the credits to be returned to a one-year delivery period in this upcoming session and to reduce the basis adjustment, which would greatly increase the value of historic restoration projects utilizing the credit. Sen. Bill Cassidy is helping with this effort, and we are grateful for his leadership.
We can always advocate by contacting our elected officials in Washington — and please do. As we wait to see what decisions are made on Capitol Hill, we will continue to be vigilant in monitoring discussions surrounding the state credit in Baton Rouge.
Locally, I am thrilled to announce that preservation is better than ever thanks to our growing army of experts to help lead the cause. I am so excited to announce that Danny Monteverde is the new editor of Preservation in Print and Sara Lowenburg is the first director of our new Save Our Cemeteries department. Their work will help move the mission of the PRC forward in the months and years to come!
