School & Institutional Trust Lands Administration (SITLA)
Issue Overview
Define the Existing Condition
Develop the Desired Future Condition
Policy & Position Statements
Goals, Objectives, Action Items
Monitoring Methods
Sources of Assistance
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Tool Kit Contents
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-Dave Hebertson, SITLA
Planning Utah Trust Lands
The State of Utah School and Institutional Trust Lands Administration continually plans much of the trust acreage in Utah . Trust Lands' plans may vary considerably from parcel to parcel. For this reason, the agency encourages county and local officials to contact it for information on trust lands prior to finalizing county planning which includes trust land. By coordinating county and trust land planning, possible conflicts can be identified while, at the same time, new opportunities for the county may be found.
The purpose of this section is to provide information and boilerplate language that will help to provide a basic understanding of the issue by factually describing the issue, its scope, and dimensions.
The School & Institutional Trust Lands Administration is very interested in being involved with individual counties in the planning and use of trust lands.
There are about 3,440,000 acres of trust land in Utah. Some counties have a considerable amount of trust land. There are maps that show trust lands in each county. Trust lands are utilized in many different ways.
It is important to remember that trust lands are not public lands. They were granted by the United States in connection with Utah 's statehood and dedicated to provide revenue for public schools and other grantees. All uses of the lands must specifically serve those beneficiaries, a fact that distinguishes state trust lands from public lands such as parks and national forests. However, trust lands can be used to support public undertakings, if the beneficiaries receive fair value for the use of their land.
There are only two ways to make money from real estate: 1) put it to use, and 2) dispose of it.
No tax money is used in the daily management of trust lands.
There are more than 7,500 parcels of trust land (3,440,000 acres). The nature of the parcels can vary substantially, so there is no single statement of “existing condition” that can describe all trust lands. Further, there is no single management paradigm that works for all trust parcels. One of the continuing challenges of trust land management is balancing competing potential uses and values for particular trust land parcels, while maintaining focus on the interest of the beneficiaries.
Desired Future Condition
It is the objective of the School and Institutional Trust Lands Administration to value and to employ each trust parcel at its highest and best use.
- Secure access to every parcel of trust land
- Perfect water rights for all developable lands
- Coordinate trust land plans with local planning and zoning officials
- Create trust opportunities through exchange and divestiture – be removed from scenic, recreational and environmentally sensitive areas
Policy and Position Statements
It is the policy of trust land managers to work with local governments to resolve planning and zoning issues. The agency acts like private property owners interested in the highest and best use for their property.
The agency must, acting as trustee for the beneficiaries, get fair value for the use of trust lands.
Goals, Objectives, and/or Action Items
- To conserve, safeguard and protect trust assets
- To optimize both short and long-term revenues and distributions for the trust beneficiaries
- Acquire producing and producible mineral properties
- Acquire investment-grade real estate
- Settle access problems
- Promote land use strategies which profit the beneficiaries and their communities
- Improve renewable resource programs – agriculture, grazing and forestry
- To build the Permanent Fund to $1,000,000,000 by 2010
The Trust Lands Administration has several large blocks (5,000 acres or larger) that are subject to more intense analysis and planning by the agency. This planning is managed by the Trust Lands' Block Planning Coordinator.
Monitoring Methods and Mechanisms
- Regular meetings between the Trust Lands Administration and the county are the preferred method of monitoring.
- The Trust Lands Administration web site is continually adding pertinent data. It can be seen at www.trustlands.com .
- Direct personal contacts between the agency and local governments are recommended
Sources and Resources to Assist
Ric McBrier Assistant Director – Planning & Development
801-538-5178
RICMCBRIER@utah.gov
Kay Burton Block Planning
801-538-5106
KAYBURTON@utah.gov
Trust Lands Administration
675 East 500 South
Suite 500
Salt Lake City, Utah 84102
801-538-5100