The trust lands will be managed in a way that balances the importance of natural values, open space, and wildlife habitat with traditional uses, such as farming and ranching, and raising revenue for public schools and other beneficiaries. Land is one of the most precious resources of Colorado, and the state should preserve as much of it as possible for the benefit of future generations. The new structure of the board better reflects the interests of the public schools and the other groups involved in and affected by the management of trust lands. Including a person with experience in public education on the board will provide it with the perspective of the largest trust beneficiary. Also, the relationship between the board and local governments and communities will improve with local government experience on the board.
Shorter terms increase accountability to trust beneficiaries and the public at large.
The proposal benefits the state's public schools in several ways. First, the General Assembly's current practice of using revenue from the trust to replace other state dollars for education is prohibited. Second, money in the public school trust fund can be used to make loans to school districts for buildings and to guarantee school district bonds. Third, by providing the board with additional flexibility to manage trust lands, the board will be able to increase revenue by acquiring more economically productive land and by disposing of less valuable land. Fourth, land development decisions will be directly tied to their impact on area school districts.