Public land access.

03LSO-0008.L1

FISCAL NOTE (HB0276)

The fiscal impact is indeterminable.

Total grazing lease annual rental is estimated at $3.5 million plus 3 percent per year. Access to 40 percent of state lands is controlled by adjacent private land ownership. Office of State Lands predicts 50 percent of grazing lessees with state leases surrounded by their deeded land will allow the lease to go vacant, rather than providing public access across their deeded property. Based on this prediction, Common School Land Income revenues would decrease by roughly $700,000 per year ($3.5 million x 40% x 50% = $700,000). This potential fiscal impact to revenues is based on future events, and is therefore indeterminable.

There is also a potential for increased expenditures to purchase and maintain access across deeded land to state and federal lands. The going rate is $8,000 per mile plus road maintenance costs. This potential fiscal impact to expenditures is based on future events, and is therefore indeterminable.

Prepared by: Dean Temte, LSO Phone: 777-7881

(information provided by Jim Whalen, State Lands; phone 777-6639)

This bill has administrative impact that appears to increase (or decrease) duties or responsibilities of one or more state agencies and may impact agency spending or staffing requirements. As introduced, the bill does not modify any state agency budget or current personnel authorizations. The following state agencies may be affected administratively:

Office of State Lands and Investments