Issues
Maximizing the Rate of Return on our 16th Section Lands
January 05, 2010
Secretary Hosemann made a promise to the people of this State to improvement the management of our school trust lands. Through various reforms, the amount of funds generated from 16th Section lands has increased over $22,000,000—an increase of over 42%--at a time when our school children need it most.
He has accomplished this by:
- Publishing all 16th Section lease information on the Secretary of State’s website. Fulfilling a campaign promise to have all 16th Section leases available on the website within 90 days, Secretary Hosemann has enabled the public to have a hands-on view of school trust leases, the lease rates, and lease terms. In one month alone, that portion of the Secretary of State’s website generated over 180,000 hits.
- Personally reviewing all 16th Section leases executed in the State of Mississippi. Secretary Hosemann felt it was important to get out on the limb with local school boards and county supervisors when fair value was determined. The signature on those leases is authentic to ensure every lease executed in the State is fair and equitable.
- Entering into a historic memorandum of understanding with the Mississippi Forestry Commission. Prior to this agreement, many timber management plans around our State were outdated. Now, school boards are armed with the most state-of-the-art forestry management plans to increase the rate of return on our timber for generations to come.
