CONTACT: Tia Nelson, Executive Secretary (608) 266-8369
MADISON – The Board of Commissioners of Public Lands today approved the sale of 192 acres of Trust Lands located in Vilas, Oneida, and Burnett counties via sealed bid public sales to be held in the near future. The Trust Lands being sold are isolated, non-productive parcels. The sale of these Trust Lands will allow BCPL to reinvest the proceeds in timber-producing lands.
The Board has sold 9,661 acres of land poorly suited for timber production or located within the boundaries of another government agency. The Board has also purchased 8,654 acres of land since being granted land bank authority by the legislature in April 2006. As directed by the legislature, proceeds from the sale of those Trust Lands can be reinvested in other property, which helps the agency meet its goal of consolidating its Trust Lands and increasing timber revenue to benefit public education. This consolidation plan improves land management efficiency for the agency. In addition, BCPL’s ability to support sustainable timber management, reduce forest fragmentation, and improve public access is enhanced by these sales and purchases.
The Board also approved eight loans totaling slightly more than $3.3 million to benefit school districts and municipalities across Wisconsin to fund their public purpose projects. Loans approved at today’s board meeting include:
* Holland Sanitary District #1 – Brown County / Finance sanitary sewer system improvements / $200,000
* Town of Jacksonport – Door County / Purchase fire equipment / $62,000
* Village of Necedah – Juneau County / Refinance State Trust Fund Loan / $178,580.85
* Village of Necedah – Juneau County / Refinance State Trust Fund Loans / $528,740.40
* City of Onalaska – La Crosse County / Purchase police patrol vehicles / $58,000
* Village of Ontario – Vernon County / Purchase police vehicle / $25,423
* Oshkosh Area School District – Winnebago County / Finance school energy efficiency projects / $1,817,883
* Village of Wyocena – Columbia County / Refinance village hall loan / $433,000
In the last 12 months, including actions approved today, the Board of Commissioners of Public Lands has approved 185 loan applications totaling nearly $149 million. The loans can be made to municipalities and school districts for any public purpose.
Created in 1848 by the Wisconsin Constitution, the Board of Commissioners of Public Lands was established to accept federal land grants and to manage trust funds for the benefit of public education in Wisconsin. The Board consists of Secretary of State Doug La Follette, Attorney General J.B. Van Hollen and State Treasurer Kurt Schuller. The majority of Trust Fund assets are held in the Common School Fund, from which the majority of State Trust Fund loans are issued. Earnings from this fund are distributed to K-12 school libraries annually.
A complete list of Wisconsin municipal and school projects funded by today’s Board action can be found here: (http://bcpl.wisconsin.gov/docview.asp?docid=21227&locid=145).
A list of loans approved in the last twelve months can be found here: (http://bcpl.wisconsin.gov/docview.asp?docid=21228&locid=145).
The agency’s current biennial report can be found here: (http://bcpl.wisconsin.gov/docview.asp?docid=18464&locid=145).
