How Trust Lands Funding Impacts Your District

There’s Gold in those Hills and Deserts for Schools

When it comes to Arizona’s Land Trust and public education, there is good news and bad news.  The good news is that in almost 100 years, Arizona has only sold 1.6 million acres, and has 9.2 million acres left to help fund public education through the sale or lease of these lands.  The bad news is that the state is now sitting on $4.3 billion, and not much is going to schools, despite recent budget cuts.

Wayne Peate, Board Member for Pima County JTED, one of several panelists, told the audience that two years ago, no money from the trust went to schools.  

Joe Melchionne, Yuma Unified Board Member,  gave a history of public trust land, which was established in 1787 for all states in the union to set aside sections of land in each township for schools.  Arizona’s Territorial Congress set aside land in 1863 and as part of the Arizona State Enabling Act of 1910,   more sections of each township were reserved for schools and a permanent fund for schools was established.

While Arizona has been good stewards of the land, selling off only 10 percent, many eastern states have no land remaining.  However, school advocates feel that the land and the fund can better serve Arizona children.  At the current rate, it would take 900 years to deplete the trust land.  The Land Commission has representation from public education, and a national organization called Children’s Lands Alliance (CLASS) wants the public to stay vigilant with this finite resource.

Education is one key.  Ballot measures come up regularly that can affect the State’s trust lands.  The public needs to know that this trust fund is our “children’s birthright.”  Lands that are sold must be valued appropriately and leased lands are a tremendous source of property taxes.  As an example, Melchionne said there are 21,000 acres of infill land in communities right now not being used, valued at $1 billion.

“We need to educate others.  99 percent of the public has never heard of trust land and how it impacts education.  That $4.3 million the Legislature would love to get their hands on, “Peoria Board Member Joe McCord said.  “Someone once said, ‘When the legislature is in session, no man’s property is safe.’”

To learn more about State Trust Land you can go to www.aztreasure.gov or www.azauditor.gov .   

ASPRA Reporter Craig Pletenik, Phoenix Union High School District