Trust lands bring in nearly $46m for schools

State land generated $45,980,220 for public K-12 schools in 2019, state officials announced last week.

Officials with the Department of Natural Resources and Conservation (DNRC) released the figure during the annual meeting of the State Land Board. They presented Superintendent of Public Instruction Elsie Arntzen with a ceremonial check during the yearly gathering in Helena.

“Trust lands are not only critical to protecting our lands for hunting and fishing, they also provide a dependable source of funding for our K-12 schools,” said Gov. Steve Bullock, State Land Board chair, in a statement. “I’m pleased to see that as we continue to diversify and improve these lands, so too are we benefitting our kids and grandkids.”

Four types of activities are permitted on trust land, including real estate, forest management, minerals, and agriculture and grazing. The state also allows outdoorsmen and women access to the land. Those equipped with a conservation license can hunt and fish. General or recreational use licenses also are available for purchase.

“Increased trust lands revenues this year means additional opportunities for Montana students,” Arntzen said in a statement. “As land board commissioners, we have a responsibility to manage our state trust lands in ways that produce strong funding for our schools and create greater opportunities for Montanans to access their public lands.”

The land board is comprised of Montana’s five statewide elected officials, including Arntzen and Bullock. They oversee management of trust lands along with DNRC.

Revenue from trust lands also benefits the Montana University System, the School for the Deaf, the Montana Veterans Home and public buildings.