Public To Lose State Forests Under New Bill

Lansing, MI – The Michigan House and Senate have approved a new bill allowing communities and school districts to sell their shares of the municipal forest system. Under House Bill 5313, municipalities could sell their forest land, keeping half the proceeds for their districts and giving the other half to the state. The legislature is aimed to raise $36 million to address the state's budget crisis. Opponents of the bill say that estimate means 31,000 acres would need to be sold at $1,161 per acre but that land itself is only worth $800 per acre. There are over 75,000 acres of land in the system, owned by 300 school districts. The districts can earn from $800,000 to $2 million a year from the resources within the forests. The House and Senate versions of the bill are awaiting concurrence before reaching the Governor's desk, who is supportive of the measure.