MY TURN: Public lands disposable at any price

Why was a $250,000 study of federal lands paid for by our legislature? AEON AI, a Utah real estate analytics software company, told members of the Idaho legislature that the state could receive millions of dollars more in tax revenue if it privatized federal public lands in Idaho. Were no Idaho property assessors competent for this? Why would we want to privatize public lands? A recent article appeared on private land owners denying access to public lands. Is this a possible outcome not considered by our legislators. (https://www.nytimes.com/2022/11/26/business/hunting-wyoming-elk-mountain-access.html)

Some legislators expressed enthusiasm for the findings, another legislator questioned if it included all of the federal payments the state receives. AEON AI specifically looked at one kind of payment, known as Payment in Lieu of Taxes, or PILT, which are designed to compensate local governments for federal public lands that counties are not able to collect property taxes on. "Payments in Lieu of Taxes" (PILTs), are typically used for funding services such as fire departments, police protection, school construction and roads. Idaho’s 44 counties will receive a combined $35.8 million under this program alone to offset the loss of property taxes on federally managed land within the state, the Interior Department announced recently.

Other federal sources like Secure Rural Schools and Community Self Determination Act payments were not included in the study. “…there was $26 million in secure rural schools (payments) this year. The $26 million was in addition to $35.8 million in PILT payments. How reliable can a $250,000 study be when it overlooks $26 million. If the purpose of the study was to provide an accurate value of tax dollars federal lands might generate if in private ownership, knowing how much these are currently generating would be important. What about the the money generated through tourists, jobs related to the use of public lands and the non monetary value of federal lands within Idaho for us who live here?

Grumbling about federal control of public lands is nothing new. Prior to statehood the federal government owned most of the western lands. The United States acquired or purchased land, eventually transferring it to state governments or individuals through homesteading or land grants to encourage western settlements. In the 20th century, the government started focusing on retaining the land it owned.

The federal government owns 61.9% (32.8 million of 52.9 million acres) of Idaho land. 14% of the public land in Idaho is protected with a wilderness designation and off-limits to mining and timber harvesting. Some public land is managed under a multiple-use mandate and can be used for multiple activities such as hunting or camping. Idaho’s public lands serve as a vital habitat for fish and wildlife, provide clean drinking water, help drive our economy, create recreation opportunities, and support our way of life. People from all around the world come to admire Idaho’s towering mountains, explore remote canyons, experience the adventure of a lifetime on one of Idaho’s wild and scenic rivers, and more. What is the value of these lands? Is it in dollars only?

Idaho state legislators want to put a monetary value on the 32 million acres that the federal government manages in an effort to claim Idaho is being short changed. The federal government held nearly all the land. When Idaho became a state some land was transferred to the state and some remained in federal ownership. Why do some legislators think we are being cheated on lands Idaho never owned?

Payments are based on both acreage and population. A rural county may have a substantial amount of acreage in public lands but a low population. Idaho’s rural counties with a large number of federal acres received the lowest payments per acre. This begs the question as to whether this is about fairness or simply a quest for more money for counties with smaller populations.

Public land may not be easy to build on and is difficult to quantify for property tax valuation. The worth of Idaho’s public lands, so popular for outdoor activities from hunting and fishing to hiking and bird watching may have a greater value based on the revenue it provides due to the activity it generates.

According a Idaho Department of Parks and Recreation, outdoor recreation in Idaho created $6.3 billion in consumer spending in 2013 and generated $461 million in state and local tax revenues. The department estimated that the state's recreation lands supported roughly 77,000 private sector jobs throughout Idaho at that time. Those numbers certainly have increased. What is the true value of an acre of federally owned land?

Voters must insure that those we elect protect our best interest. Claiming preservation of public land some politicians focus on two concerns, money and politics not preservation. The concept of the “public good” is often just an after thought, a good cover story. Public lands from local parks to our wilderness areas are for the public benefit and enjoyment. We do not want political leaders who focus on money rather than the public good. Idaho like all states has some serious problems from needing better paying jobs to improved roads and bridges to schools. Please focus on need not greed.

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Phil Ward is a Coeur d’Alene resident.