ID HJM005

Sixty-three percent of Idaho's land is federally managed and exempt from property taxation, with eight counties having 75% or more federally managed lands within their boundaries.

Federal payments in lieu of taxes to counties have declined and failed to fully compensate for lost property tax revenue from private lands transferred to federal ownership, straining rural counties' ability to provide public services.

Idaho Legislature urges Congress to enact legislation requiring that when private lands are exchanged, purchased, or transferred to the federal government, other federal lands within the same county must be sold.

Federal lands sold by the government must be substantially equivalent in market value to lands acquired and comply with local land use planning goals.

Idaho Legislature encourages federal land management agencies to consider the impact of land transfers on county taxpayers, local government services, and tax burden shifts resulting from private-to-federal land conversions.