December 2006 Edition: Focus on Montana State Lands and the Montana Land Board

This issue contains both a look back at the activities of the Land Board and Trust Land Management Division in 2006 and a look forward to the many possible changes pending legislation may bring in 2007.

In a nutshell, state lands produced $65.2 million dollars in distributable revenues for public schools and institutions in 2006, which was an increase of $8.1 million over 2005. Significantly, oil and gas revenues, riding the wave of high energy prices, doubled from last year to $37.4 million.

On the legislative front, proposals that would change everything from the way state lands are managed and funded to how they can be sold or purchased are up for consideration.

But no use giving the story away ahead of time. Read on and discover for yourself the complex and interesting tale of Montana's 5.2 million acres of state lands – how we use them, how they serve us, and how we hope to preserve them for the benefit of future generations.

Focus on Montana State Lands and the Montana Land Board is researched and written by George Ochenski, and edited by Jeanne-Marie Souvigney