Montana Land Deals Bring $12M Boost to Public Schools

School Trust Land Brings $12M in new funding for Public Schools

The Montana Board of Land Commissioners just approved more than $12 million in new revenue, going to support public education and other state trust land programs.

At their regular May meeting, the Land Board signed off on a handful of projects that highlight how Montana's natural resources can be managed in a way that helps communities, protects the land, and fund things like classrooms, infrastructure, and broadband.

Read More: Montana School Trust Lands - What to Know About Recreation

Commissioner Brown said in a press release, “These projects show our commitment to both smart resource management and giving Montana kids the tools they need to thrive.”

Breaking Down the Dollars:

• Timber Sales: Five timber sales in Missoula, Lincoln, Mineral, and Flathead counties are expected to bring in $1.2 million. Along with putting money into schools, these logging projects will help thin overgrown forests and reduce wildfire risk. Fire season is coming soon, unfortunately.
• Oil & Gas Royalties: Over in Roosevelt and Richland counties, several Bakken Formation wells (including the Kai and Storvik wells) will generate about $10.6 million in royalties.
• Easements for Infrastructure: The Board also approved a variety of easement deals (fiber optic lines, water pipelines, and highway improvements) spanning counties like Custer, Fallon, Flathead, Lewis & Clark, and more. These projects will raise around $191,000.

This came after public input from tribes, residents, environmental groups, and government agencies, according to the release. Officials say every project went through environmental review.

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The Land Board oversees more than five million acres of state trust land. The money made off of that land, by law, goes into supporting public education and other key services across Montana.