Monday, November 28, 2005

Our Opinion: Let Az voters have a say in state trust land

Tucson Citizen

No better cure exists for insomnia than the utterance, "state trust land reform."

It's a complex subject usually only of interest and understandable to policy wonks. But that complexity obscures an issue critically important to the future of Arizona, an issue that the Legislature has consistently ducked responsibility for.

Because of that, it is critical that the voters step forward and address it.

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. However, the constitutional provisions governing use and sale of the land are out of step with the needs of this rapidly growing state.

For example, the land must be leased or managed to provide the highest return, with no provision for preservation. If local governments want state trust land preserved, they must bid for it against developers. And there are problems that prevent the state from working with cities to plan development.

Several comprehensive reform proposals have been presented to the Legislature - most recently earlier this year. But lawmakers have been unwilling to tackle the multipronged issue.

A coalition of environmental and educational groups has stepped forward to do what lawmakers have failed to do - taking out petitions to put a reform proposal on the 2006 general election ballot in the form of a state constitutional amendment.

The amendment would allow local governments and public land agencies to acquire some trust land for permanent preservation. The land could be sold outright for preservation or it could be set aside and taken off the market while money is found.

About 690,000 acres worth preserving - much of it in southern Arizona - have been identified in the initiative. As part of the proposal, a seven-member board appointed by the governor would oversee disposition of the land to be preserved.

And if a developer wanted to build on some of that land, the builder would be required to work with local governments in planning - something not now required.

Support for the initiative is not unanimous, even within the environmental community that has pushed hard for changes.

But by signing the petitions being circulated by the coalition and having the measure placed on the ballot next year, voters will ensure there will be a complete public debate of the issue - something that has not happened at the Legislature.

MORE ONLINE: www.aztrustlands.com