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To learn more about the history of endowment lands, the State Board of Land Commissioners and the Idaho Department of Lands, refer to the University of Idaho, College of Natural Resources publication, Idaho's Endowment Lands, a Matter of Sacred Trust by Jay O'Laughlin, March 1990.

How often does the Land Board meet?

Effective August 2008, the State Board of Land Commissioners will meet regularly on the third Tuesday of each month to conduct the business of managing Idaho's Endowment and Trust lands. Click here for a meeting calendar. Meeting dates and times are subject to change at the discretion of the Board.

On May 15, 2008 the State Board of Land Commissioners approved a meeting date change. Effective with the August 2008 meeting, the Board will begin meeting regularly on the third Tuesday of each month.

Calendar of Land Board Meeting Dates

What are endowment lands?

excerpt from the Idaho Department of Lands 2006 Annual Report ...

When Idaho was admitted to the Union as the 43rd state in 1890, it was granted approximately 3,672,000 acres of land for the support of state institutions. The land was granted under the condition that it be managed in perpetuity as a trust for the beneficiary institutions. This mandate was codified in Article IX Section 8 of the Idaho Constitution, which states that the lands are to be managed, "...in such manner as will secure the maximum long term financial return to the institution to which granted." Chief among the beneficiaries are the public schools, which received two sections of every township in the state (1/18 of the total land base). Other institutions include the University of Idaho, the Agricultural College, the Normal Schools, Penitentiary, Charitable Institutions, State Hospital South, School of Science and Public Buildings (now Capitol).

Management activities on state endowment trust land are not intended to benefit the general public, but are directed solely to the good of the beneficiaries of the original land grants. Money generated from the management of these lands is deposited into the earnings reserve fund from which the costs of management and payments to the beneficiaries are made. Revenue from mineral royalties is deposited into the permanent endowment fund. Both the earnings reserve and permanent fund are invested by the Endowment Fund Investment Board. The investment return is distributed to the beneficiaries. Land sale revenue is deposited into the land bank and is available to purchase other land. If not expended for that purpose within five years, the land sale revenue is deposited into the permanent fund.

Management of endowment trust lands is entrusted to the State Board of Land Commissioners. The Idaho Department of Lands is the administrative arm of the Board and carries out the executive directives of the Board to meet the constitutional trust mandate.

How do I contact Land Board members?

If you would like to send correspondence to Land Board members, you can address your envelope to:

Attn: Director - Idaho Department of Lands
Secretary to the State Board of Land Commissioners
300 North 6th Street Suite 103
Post Office Box 83720
Boise, Idaho 83720-0050

or you can send your correspondence to each Board member individually by using the contact information available on their respective web sites.

Idaho Governor C. L. "Butch" Otter Contact Governor C. L. "Butch" Otter: http://gov.idaho.gov/ourgov/contact.html

Idaho Secretary of State Ben Ysursa Contact Secretary of State Ben Ysursa: http://www.idsos.state.id.us/

Idaho Attorney General Lawrence Wasden Contact Attorney General Lawrence Wasden: http://www2.state.id.us/ag/about/contact.htm

Idaho Controller Donna Jones Contact Controller Donna Jones: http://www.sco.idaho.gov/web/scoweb.nsf/pages/adminfunctcontact.htm

Idaho Superintendent of Public Instruction Tom Luna Contact Superintendent of Public Instruction Tom Luna: http://www.sde.idaho.gov/Contact/default.asp

Contact the Recording Secretary to the Land Board: sterry@idl.idaho.gov

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© 2008 Idaho Department of Lands | Last modified: July 22, 2008