Determining the cost to the state of Montana to take over management of roughly 25 million acres of federal land within its borders is no easy task, but a back of the envelope calculation puts such a deal at close to half a billion dollars.
“There’s a whole new sector of land management that would be needed to manage public lands,” said John Grassy, information officer for the Montana Department of Natural Resources and Conservation. “We’re being asked to project how we would staff and program an additional 25 million acres. It’s something we’ve never done before.”
Despite the difficulties, the DNRC is still trying to come up with some figures, possibly by this fall.
Gov. Steve Bullock has made it clear that he does not endorse a takeover of federal lands in Montana, calling such public property the birthright of state residents...
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It's something you've never done before? You're still trying to come up with some figures on the costs of managing an additional 25 million acres? Let me give you a hint. According to your website you currently have 5 million surface acres under your jurisdiction. Now take what that costs and MULTIPLY IT BY 5! Do you think you could do that before this fall?
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