OCR Text |
Show Department of the Interior return 12^2 percent of the revenues to the States for distribution among the counties. The unreserved and unappropriated public domain lands return 50 percent. National forest lands and the lands administered by the Soil Conservation Service return 25 percent of the gross revenues to the county in which the lands lie. Na- tional defense lands, park lands, and Indian lands pay nothing. A small return is made from revenues received from the wildlife preserves under the Fish and Wildlife Service. These contributions to local governments in lieu of taxes can in some cases upset orderly patterns. In the national forests, a county may receive con- siderable revenue within a short period as the tim- ber is cut. Once the lands are cut over, it may be 20 years or more before new sales can be made. On the other hand, grazing district lands yield a rather regular revenue to local governments be- cause the range is heavily used and the grass har- vested on an annual basis. Fluctuations in these contributions also cause hardships because local governments are unable to determine exactly what the revenues will be. To meet this situation, which is particularly acute in portions of the basin, pres- ent policies and arrangements for these contribu- tions need extensive revision. Many similar problems will arise as reservoirs are constructed. Some of these activities will not provide benefits compensating fully for the losses in taxable wealth. Added expenses in some areas will be entailed, such as those for roads, schools, and other facilities. Conclusions The Missouri Basin reservoir program directly affects a large number of farm families and other people, many of whom are required to sell their property and move to other sites. A program should be established to assist them to make these changes. Many of the measures necessary to do this will require legislation. (1) People affected should be notified of dis- placement as soon after project authorization and as far in a,dvance of the move as possible. A 5- to 10-year notice will ease readjustment for the per- sons to be displaced. Local advisory committees should be organized to assist in making these adjustments. (2) Land acquisition procedures should be de- veloped tlmat will have the confidence and support of displaced families. Payment for land should 234 be as prompt as possible. A revolving fund should be available to permit land purchase as soon as a project is authorized. Cost of purchasing com- parable property should be taken into account when appraising the value of a property. (3) If condemnation is necessary, court should convene near the site where lands are to be cleared through condemnation. Advance payments, wher- ever feasible, should be made when there are dif- ficulties in clearing titles or pending final determi- nation of land values involved in disputes. (4) Many local people, including farm tenants and owners of businesses, are not compensated in any way for a reasonable cost of moving and re- establishment. Legislation is needed to meet these costs. (5) An agency should be empowered to help displaced farm people find new opportunities. Credit should be provided and aid and technical assistance given from other farm assistance pro- grams. The agency should see that a minimum of time would be lost in relocation. Legislation is needed. (6) In reservoir areas where some lands will be suitable for agriculture under a leasing system, the land should be classified as to its most desirable use, and tracts for leasing should be laid out so as to facilitate efficient use. Such classification and plans for management should be developed early in the reservoir program. (7) Disturbance should be minimized by leas- ing to current owner-operators and tenants where practicable; the leases should be renewable as long as their provisions are followed. (8) Preferential leases should be granted to for- mer owners, unless they have no intention of op- erating the lands themselves. (9) Local zoning should be encouraged to guide development on privately owned land around pub- lic reservoir areas. The objective would be to relate these lands closely to over-all recreation and other plans for the area. (10) Where Federal lands are involved in res- ervoir sites, the public facilities and services de- stroyed or made useless and the potential land and resources use should be realistically considered. Replacement of facilities should be on the basis of equal utility for equal need, not merely in kind. Impacts of the reservoirs on public land adminis- tration should be considered in planning and ex- ecution, and funds should be available to help overcome the adverse effects of the construction or operations on the services those lands perform. |