Paula on the Issues - State Trust Lands
State Trust Lands
When Arizona became a state in 1912, Congress set aside about 10 million acres to be held in trust by the state. Revenue from the sale and lease of that land was to be used to build schools and prisons. Ninety-three years later, the state still has more than 9.2 million acres remaining in the trust.
In 2002, Arizona citizens approved Proposition 300, which dedicated expendable revenue from state trust land in excess of $72 million annually to the Arizona Classroom Site Fund. This fund (which also includes sales tax revenue for the next 18 years) is administered by school districts and provides funding directly to the classroom. Money from the Classroom Site Fund is used to supplement teacher pay, to fund dropout prevention programs, and to reduce class size.
Because state trust lands provide them with a dedicated source of revenue, the education community has a big interest in generating revenue from state lands and has spearheaded this proposed reform effort. With voter approval of Prop 300, funds from state trust lands increased spending for public education in Arizona and supplements funds appropriated by the legislature. Before voter approval of Prop 300, revenue from state trust lands offset appropriations from the legislature.
"Conserving Arizona's Future" is a statewide citizen's ballot initiative that will protect approximately 694,000 acres of our state's most critical natural areas for future generations to enjoy. The initiative will also:
- Enable local and state government to work together for better community and open space planning
- Protect and guarantee classroom funding to ensure better schools for Arizona.
Conserving Arizona's Future includes a planning process that will enhance our communities through managed growth. And it enhances the overall value of the trust and the revenues that will be generated for teacher salaries and other classroom expenditures.
Senator Aboud supports the citizen initiative, "Conserving Arizona's Future".